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Official Minutes of MARION COUNTY
BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
May 18 2018
CALL TO ORDER The Marion County Board of County Commissioners met in a workshop session in Commission Chambers at 203 pm on Friday May 18 2018 at the Marion County Governmental Complex located in Ocala Florida
INTRODUCTION OF WORKSHOP BY CHAIRMAN KATHY BRYANT Chairman Bryant advised that the workshop was scheduled this afternoon for the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) to present information about the Coastal Connector Study
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE The meeting opened with invocation by Representative Charlie Stone and the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag of our Country
ROLL CALL Upon roll call the following members were present Chairman Kathy Bryant District 2 Vice-Chair Michelle Stone District 5 Commissioner David Moore District 1 Commissioner Jeff Gold District 3 and Commissioner Carl Zalak District 4 Also present were County Attorney Matthew G Minter and County Administrator Mounir Bouyounes
Seated behind the County Attorney and County Administrator are County Engineer Tracy Straub Office of the County Engineer (OCE) and Public Relations (PR) Director Nick Zoller
Chairman Bryant advised that she will address the procedures for this afternoons workshop before the meeting begins She noted she is allowing something that is normally not done at workshops however she will take one (1) hour of public comment for those who signed up to speak Each speaker will be given two minutes the green light signals your start time yellow lets you know you have 30 seconds remaining and red means your time is up and you need to step away from the podium Chairman Bryant recognized that a lot of folks are here from Tuesdays Board of County Commissioners (BCC) meeting noting she wants to give everyone who wants to speak an opportunity to do so and asked that speakers be respectful of the 2 minute time limit She advised that FDOT will start today with their presentation Chairman Bryant asked that everyone be respectful and not to clap or cheer noting she will clear the auditorium and take a recess if the meeting does not remain civil She noted this issue is very emotional for many citizens who have investments in their properties and homes which is why the workshop is open to public comment Chairman Bryant stated those who signed up for public comment need to come to the podium state their name and address for the record She advised that speakers need to address the BCC not FDOT or the audience Chairman Bryant asked that everyone refrain from clapping after speakers which will make the meeting go much smoother as well as allowing time for everyone who has signed up to speak She reiterated that the Board does not generally open the floor to public comment in workshops which is why
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there is a 1-hour time limit Chairman Bryant also asked that speakers not repeat one another noting those signed up to speak can also waive in support or agree to the previous speaker(s) She noted that once public comment is concluded the Board will have some discussion Chairman Bryant advised that the Board cannot take formal action at a workshop meeting however they can have a general consensus Chairman Bryant asked that those in the audience move in to open up seats so that those standing can be seated since you cannot stand next to the doors It was noted that several people were left standing along the wall as no seats were available Chairman Bryant further asked those with cell phones to either turn them off or put them on vibrate (silence them) so as not to interfere in the conversation She noted those in the lobby can also hear the meeting
The Deputy Clerk received a 1 page Agenda outline and a document entitled Coastal Connector Study Briefing containing 17 slides and 4 page pamphlet entitled Alternative Corridor Evaluation (ACE) Study Corridor Alternatives Public Meeting from the Spring of 2018
COASTAL CONNECTOR STUDY BRIEFING David Cooke FDOT Turnpike Planning Manager David Cooke Planning Manager for FDOT Floridas Turnpike Enterprise thanked the Board for receiving them today noting they have been having a lot of comments and are listening to all of the countys constituents He noted that the project team is present today and introduced Steve Schell FDOTs consultant Project Manager who is working on the study as well as Becky Bolan FDOTs Turnpike Project Manager Mr Cooke advised that Ms Bolan will give the presentation and staff will be available to answer questions
Rebecca Bolan PE Project Manager for Floridas Turnpike Enterprise (Montgomery Consulting Group) Becky Bolan advised that she works as the Florida Turnpikes Project Manager on the study and works for Montgomery Consulting Group which is a consultant and extension of Turnpike staff She noted she physically works in the building with FDOT staff in the Environmental Management Office Ms Bolan stated they are listening to the public noting that is where they are in this phase of the study listening Some things have been shown and they will be modifying adopting changing moving and eliminating which is why they are here They want to engage with those here in the county cities and stakeholders as well as recognizing the importance of Marion County varied business horses and agriculture Ms Bolan stated this is a planning study and noted they are early into the process She referred to the PowerPoint presentation noting Slide 1 is titled Study Briefing This is an early planning study and FDOT is working to try and plan for future transportation needs which is something to keep in mind Other slides will speak to the schedule and the process FDOT is following to provide safe transportation alternatives for future generations FDOTs Mission is to provide a safe transportation system that ensures the mobility of people and goods enhances economic prosperity and preserves the quality of our environment and communities Slide 2 addresses the Agenda where the study information will be spoken about however the presentation from Corridor Alternatives Public Meetings from 42618 and
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5118 will not be shown since it is a video that was shared at the public information meetings and is available online at wwwcoastalconnectorcom Slide 3 contains a map of Marion and Citrus counties which are the study areas as this is the start of the overall connection between the Tampa to Jacksonville corridor This was a future corridor that was developed and studied by FDOT so this first piece between Citrus and Marion counties is the start of the overall goal of having a connector between the Tampa Bay area and Jacksonville Commissioner Stone questioned when the study began Ms Bolan stated it started in the late winterfall of 2016 Ms Bolan stated it is hoped that by the end of this study that they may have a recommendation to move forward and continue the study moving on to Project Development amp Environment (PDampE) Study Phase She noted there may be a decision that they no longer want to do a study but they may find something that is agreeable to everyone so that they can move and continue to study into the PDampE Phase The PDampE Phase is where the environmental studies are conducted as well as looking at social and physical community impacts to either try to avoid minimize or mitigate those impacts which is the process FDOT follows There is always the option to have a No Build which means nothing is done or there is a recommended alternative to move forward If they make it through the PDampE process and reach a point where there is a recommended alternative to move forward then they move into the Design Phase The Design Phase is more detail oriented Purchase of needed rights-of-way (ROW) would follow the Design Phase which is then followed by construction Currently nothing is funded in FDOTs 5shyYear Work Program for any of the phases after the Planning Study Ms Bolan advised that they like to plan 20 30 40 years into the future and in order to do that they have to start early so that there is some infrastructure in place that can handle what has happened in the area by the time they get there She stated it takes a while to get through the Planning Phase to construction noting as an example the PDampE Study for the Suncoast Parkway 2 (SR 589) was started in 1994 and completed in 1998 for a 30 mile roadway FDOT began construction of the first 13 miles in 2018 which will take approximately 4 years to construct Slide 4 addresses purpose and need The purpose of the study is to evaluate the feasibility of a new transportation corridor to help address population growth congestion truck and visitor traffic as well as evacuation The project is needed to address transportation challenges in the future long-term infrastructure improvements that can help benefit access to the area including various features of concern businesses residents farming community and the horse industry FDOT wants to work with the county to come up with solutions that will benefit and help the entire community Slide 5 addresses the study schedule and public involvement Ms Bolan commented on the public kickoff meeting held in the fall of 2017 where they had a blank map of Citrus and Marion counties Those present were asked what would be needed in the next 20 to 40 years and where they thought they should go A number of people drew lines on the map She noted there is a lot of information they are still gathering Comments made at that first meeting was that they did not have anything to look at as there were no lines on the maps Something that was developed as part of the 1-75 Relief Task Force Study is the Land Suitability Mapping (LSM) which has a lot of layers and was approved by the various regulatory agencies The LSM helps identify where features are that you want to stay away from and where it might be available to go through
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FDOT reached out and has met with some cities and counties such as Marion County Citrus County City of Belleview Dunnellon Crystal River Inverness and some of their staff where they were asked the same questions Ms Bolan stated they will continue to work with everyone noting they have been invited to some of the equestrian facilities as well as farmlands She stated they will continue to meet with Marion County staff Citrus County and other municipalities as they proceed to evaluate and find something that is acceptable to the area Slide 6 addresses the study process Alternative Corridor Evaluation (ACE) process which was developed by FDOT to provide for a method for identifying and evaluating various corridors early in the process allows for input from stakeholders agencies and the public and meet the state and federal planning requirements for the next phase Slide 7 addresses recent meetings held in Citrus County and Marion County Ms Bolan advised that all of the information from these meetings can be found on the website She noted as the study continues other things will be posted to the website The website is where people can go to obtain information about the study and provide feedback Slide 8 covers the status update Initial outreach meetings have been conducted FDOT started to identify and present preliminary corridor alternatives and held corridor alternative public meetings Ms Bolan advised that the corridors were posted on the website on April 26th which is the date in the advertisement Slide 9 addresses current and future steps Ms Bolan noted they are continuing to take input from agencies and the public coordinating with cities counties and stakeholders in the area to continue with the study evaluation modify evaluate adjust and propose preliminary alternatives that might be acceptable engage and present additional or new alternatives to show the public to include additional public meetings and may have another public meeting to show a recommendation The study recommendation completion will be updated as there is currently no date although they were hoping for early next year which could change based on how things move forward with the study Slides 10 through 14 address the websites which show the different sections and hyperlinks to the homepage online meetings address lookup address lookup features and staying connected Slide 15 shows contact information for Ms Bolan and Mr Jung Slide 16 concludes the presentation Chairman Bryant thanked Ms Bolan for the presentation Commissioner Stone asked for help with understanding the routes and stated she cannot imagine anyone from Marion County helped draw some of the lines Consultant Project Manager Steve Schnell HDR Engineering West Forsyth Street Jacksonville stated Ms Bolan touched on it with the LSM noting this is what they are bound to as part of the early planning stage which is an acceptable methodology from the agencies He reiterated that this is very early in the planning stage noting there is a lot of data collection they have to do and is part of where they are as Ms Bolan stressed Mr Schnell stated these are just starting points lines on the map to start that discussion He advised that they are here today to get feedback and input In response to Chairman Bryant Mr Schnell stated at this stage they sat down and started looking at possible routes but have not yet gone into land use He commented on the 1-75 Relief Task Force Study and information provided noting priorities were put on that data collected The information was used and supplemented with additional information received that removed the subjectivity which is part of the first step The maps were prepared based solely on the information collected and regulatory
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requirements Wetlands and cultural resources are items that went to the top because there are federal requirements for those types of issues Commissioner Moore briefly commented on the national history of Marion County and Fort King which was the logistics capital noting all roads led to Fort King Commissioner Gold out at 234 pm He further commented on Ponce de Leon noting before Marion County was known as the Horse Capital of the World it was known as the Cattle Capital of the World because of the rich soil Commissioner Moore inquired as to why everything is going over to the west through the Horse Capital of the World and asked why the routes were not to the east where it would not negatively impact the horse industry which is where the roads were originally in the 1800s Mr Schell stated this is an interim process and they are here to gather information that has not been collected The overall objective at this point for starting to look at that area around Highway 326 was to get improved connectivity to Jacksonville in the future 30 years from now The reason for focusing on the Highway 326 area to start with is because of traffic on US Highway 301 today and into the future A large portion of todays and future traffic uses the 326 interchange to access 1-75 and other roads in that area which has somewhat set the northern termini for the alternatives The southern termini was set by the Suncoast Connector Suncoast Parkway To make those points connect FDOT is using terminology that is acceptable by the agencies Commissioner Moore questioned going to the east noting one advantage of going to the east is that much of it is publicly owned property which would help in regard to eminent domain Mr Schell stated those are items FDOT can look at going to the east further north or west noting comments were received about possibly going to Highways 316 318 and even further north He noted that through this process the No Build is always an option looking at the long list of items they have to analyze evaluate and compare Commissioner Gold returned at 237 pm Mr Schell stated there is still much to be done noting this is a feasibility study and they are looking at whether or not this is even feasible County Attorney Matthew G Minter commented on the LSM methodology used and inquired as to the criteria that defines suitability Mr Schell advised that it is based on sensitivity when that information was gathered as part of the 1-75 relief effort the agencies weighed in on their priorities which have regulatory requirements attached to them (eg wetlands and cultural resources) In response to Mr Minter Mr Schell stated this is the follow-up step to the suitability map that identifies sensitive areas What is seen in the handout in terms of the comparison is a high level snapshot as this moves forward the agencies weigh in on that evaluation criteria however they have not yet gotten to that step Mr Schell stated there are a whole range of issues they have to look at such as how the alternatives compare in terms of the purpose of need environmental (ie social physical natural) costs and how it relates to the Comprehensive Plan or other plans that have been done and whether it is consistent In response to Commissioner Stone Mr Schell advised that this is the starting point where they are gathering data and input He clarified that no decision has been made on any of this Commissioner Zalak referred to the alternatives noting all segments come together at the 2 points and questioned how that selection was made noting materials from the 1-75 Relief Task Force to produce part of this study however this has nothing to do with
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relieving traffic from 1-75 Mr Schell agreed that this has nothing to do with relieving traffic from 1-75 and clarified that the only information that was used from the 1-75 Relief Task Force was information that was put into the LSM Commissioner Zalak clarified that they are 2 different purposes one is to relieve 1-75 and this one is simply to connect Tampa Bay and Jacksonville Mr Schell advised that this will have some benefit to 1-75 but that is not the main objective noting hurricane evacuation is a need but is not the primary need He stated there is a wide range of things they are looking to address and is different from 1-75 In response to Commissioner Zalak Mr Schell stated the primary need here is to ultimately improve connectivity to northeast Florida Commissioner Zalak commented on the need for all routes to concedemerge onto Highway 27 and asked what is special about that point Mr Schell stated there is nothing special they broke the segments up into a northern and southern segment so everything at the southern segment is at Highway 27 the reason that point was initially selected is based on the traffic He noted they have to have an apples-to-apples comparison when comparing alternatives same beginning and end point For FDOT to compare the southern alternative for the southern segments (apples-to-apples) they have to the same termini Mr Schell advised that they can certainly move noting this is the starting point for this evaluation Commissioner Zalak questioned whether a toll road like this could be used in conjunction with current roadways that already have ROW at some level Ms Bolan advised that as part of the 1-75 Relief Study there was a North 1-75 Master Plan which looked at 1-75 Highways 41 301 and 27 which can be found on their website under the documents section She noted the 1-75 Relief process used existing roadways which were looked at looking out into the future Based on projected traffic and congestion that will occur in the future years the study said that those existing corridors cannot handle all of the traffic and even improving some of those existing corridors will create tremendous impacts Improving existing corridors is an option but the county will still have impacts if everything will not fit within the existing ROW Commissioner Zalak commented on the study and asked if Ms Bolan had any recollection from the study as to how far off those are for example if you were going to improve existing corridors to a certain point how much more traffic will there actually be from a projected level Ms Bolan stated they would have to get invested into the details but there are some things to think about The turnpike is looking at some studies in the Orlando area and Wekiva Parkway where they have actually taken some existing corridor and kept the local access on the outsides and put the expressway in the middle so that both are kept which may be an option for some of these corridors however when you do that you may not be able to fit it in the existing ROW and additional property may have to be taken She noted there are impacts to areas outside those existing corridors Commissioner Zalak concurred noting no matter which way you choose roadways and other areas will be impacted Mr Schell advised that when they first met with County staff they were advised of roadway they were not to take a look at (eg SR 200 some medians and US Highway 41 going through Dunnellon) He stated they can go back and look at some of those existing roads and possibly using them but they want to have that coordination before moving forward to make sure they are not making an issue worse One of the first things they looked at was transmission lines easements areas that were already disturbed where they could run a possible alternative along
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Mr Schell referred to Slide 17 addressing Corridor Alternative Segments noting Alternative C1 and Alternative C2 are in Citrus County with an easement that runs east and west The objective there was to follow that easement The one farthest east (shown in orange) is adjacent or close to SR 200 uses an easement that crosses the Withlacoochee River To some extent they did look at existing roads but more so they were looking at easements or other areas that were possibly already disturbed Chairman Bryant thanked Messrs Cooke and Schnell as well as Ms Bolan for giving the presentation today She advised that she will ask several elected officials (Mayor Guinn Mayor Green Representative Stone and Representative McClain) if they wish to speak now or after public comment noting their time will not be included in the 1-hour time limit Ms Bolan stated they are listening and would like to continue to work with county staff (ie Engineering and Planning staff) and other municipalities and their staff as well as the equestrian communities agricultural communities and businesses that are important to this area Chairman Bryant reiterated earlier comment that this is very early in the planning stage and nothing has been cast in stone nor is there any funding for this project She stated FDOT could go back at the end of the day and say No Build
GENERAL PUBLIC COMMENT All members of the public wishing to speak during the General Public portion of the agenda will be limited to two (2) minutes to make their comments regarding the Coastal Connector At the discretion of the Chairman public comment will be heard for a total of one-hour Mayor Kent Guinn City of Ocala noted this is very early in the process which is a great time to stop it He stated it is his understanding that folks in Gainesville Alachua County asked that this not go through their county but is not sure that is correct Mayor Guinn urged the group to find a different route as this is the heart and soul of Marion County He noted his family came here in 1850 and urged the BCC to prepare a Resolution to say they are absolutely against the Coastal Connector Mayor Guinn further stated he is hopeful that the Ocala City Council will also adopt a Resolution to mirror the countys Mayor Walter Green City of Dunnellon advised that the city is currently working on its Resolution noting they want this entire issue stopped He stated he cannot recall an issue that has united our people in opposition to anything as this particular item noting he was raised in Dunnellon He commended Mr Cooke and his team as they have done a good job in relaying exactly what they know Mayor Green stated the route should continue to red level as was originally designed He noted the state currently owns a corridor (US Highway19) that is underutilized the map in the handout does not show Highway 19 only Ocala and Dunnellon This is a northsouth issue not an eastwest issue Mayor Green assured everyone that you do not go from one coast to another during a hurricane as hurricanes span the State of Florida He opined that they should go back to the original plan Representative Stan McClain advised from his seat in the audience that he has nothing further to add Representative Charlie Stone advised from his seat in the audience that he has nothing further to add Chairman Bryant noted that many who signed up to speak were here Tuesday May 15 2018 and are aware of what was said by the Board She asked that speakers keep their comments direct and to the point so that others can have an opportunity to also speak Margie Husted SW 61St Place Road advised from her seat in the audience that Mayor Green spoke for her
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Annette Stutzman SW 192nd Court Romeo agreed with Mayor Greens comments She commented on the possible routes and recommended FDOT stop the Coastal Connector Alternative Corridor evaluation today and have no toll road Connie Bryant SW 31st Street Dunnellon stated a lot of what she wanted to say has already been said but the Coastal Connector will destroy Marion County She advised that she is opposed Kristin Schlegel SW 121st Terrace advised that she purchased her property because it backed up to Florida Forever protected land She commented on proposed construction of a roadway made for environmentally sensitive areas and the impact on wildlife Ms Schlegal expressed her support for the widening of 1-75 and improving existing infrastructure She advised that the turnpike is in terrible condition Kimberly Carp NW 110th Avenue Horse Country Carriage Company and Tours Kimberden Farm the University of Florida and Trinity Catholic Equestrian Team advised that she is opposed to the Coastal Connector The fallout from the loss of farmland will have negative effects on many sectors of the local economy including ecotourism She demanded that the Costal Connector routes for Marion County be formally withdrawn immediately Mary Jane Hunt NW 90th Avenue presented a 1page handout addressing her questions to FDOT which she read into the record She expressed her appreciation to FDOT representatives for coming today Kathrin Dancer NW 80th Avenue commented on how she learned about the Coastal Connection as she was never notified about the road possibilities She expressed concern with the impact on her property Marie Schinman NW 82nd Court (Forest of Golden Hills) commented on the impact to her property and others in the area James Scott SW 19th Avenue Road General Manager Kinsman Stud Farm and President of the Florida Thoroughbred Farm Managers thanked the Board and FDOT for todays workshop He advised that they are vigorously opposed to the Coastal Connector Manuel Escalante NW 115th Avenue commented on the port-to-port highway which basically tells us that the priority for the State of Florida is businesses and is not taking into account the livelihood of Marion County He encouraged FDOT to take into account the status of Marion County and what the citizens are seeking David A Velez NW 120th Street Morriston noted the Coastal Connector proposal goes through the heart of Marion County He inquired as to what community is asking for this project Mr Velez advised that this is a democracy and the people here respectfully request our elected officials to act accordingly Richard Olsen NW 100th Avenue advised that on September 19 2017 the House of Representatives created a select committee on hurricane responses and preparedness who were charged to gather information solicit ideas and make recommendations on how to better prepare for future hurricanes Their final report was issued on January 16 2018 where the first set of recommendations was that of evacuations Among the recommended improvements was to extend the Suncoast Highway to the Georgia (GA) state line to provide another northsouth evacuation option Nowhere in the Floridas Turnpike Enterprise (FTE) Study was this route mentioned nor were others such as the route north of Gainesville for a possible connection to 1-10 He opined that this is a matter of public safety which commissioners have always made that paramount in any decisions made To risk the safety of thousands for the benefit of a few is reprehensible
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Joan Pletcher S Highway 475 advised that she represents landowners people she has sold land to who all came to Marion County because of the beautiful land peace and quiet She opined that FDOT BCC and Secretary of State need to recognize what our horse industry and agriculture bring to the State of Florida She urged the Board to vote against the Coastal Connector and ask FDOT to find another place Henry J Munoz Marion Oaks Boulevard commented on the toll road which puts it under the Toll Commission Authority not FDOT and questioned who will have oversight He further questioned why the proposal is to go from Tampa to Jacksonville rather than going north Mr Munoz asked what happened to rail and commented on eminent domain He stated now is the time to expand 1-75 Commissioner Gold left his seat at 319 pm but did not leave the auditorium Amy Agricola West Anthony Road advised that her property is not on the map but she is here to support the entire community of Marion County noting she has a few questions that were raised during the presentation She inquired as to who asked that Highway 41 and SR 200 not be looked at because it did not come from the public Ms Agricola stated she does not understand why we are looking at this when we could be looking at different things such as rail monorails or public transportation noting this is outdated technology She asked that the county be formally withdrawn from this study to save taxpayer dollars Lonny Powell Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Florida Thoroughbred Breeders and Owners Association (FTBOA) SW 60th Avenue noted he is also a resident of Dunnellon Commissioner Gold returned to his seat at 321 pm He stated the Boards discussion at their meeting on Tuesday (May 15 2018) to adopt a Resolution opposing the Coastal Connector is the appropriate action noting residents are also counting on our Senators Representatives Governors Office and Gubernatorial Candidates to also show the same courage as the BCC Mr Powell advised that on May 14 2018 a letter was sent to FDOT and the Board stating their position Janet Barrow SW 164th Avenue Road Dunnellon opined that the State of Florida needs to redefine what progress is because building more roads to accommodate more people will eventually not work She stated the studies are flawed and commented on Alternative C2 which crosses the gas pipeline over a sinkhole that was filled in with dirt and was described in FDOTs Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) as a shallow depression Ms Barrow noted she is watching what the state and federal government and local officials are doing She expressed her support for No Build Brian Donnelly West Anthony Road stated it is important for FDOT to understand why the Coastal Connector is not for Marion County it does not fit with the goals and objectives of the Master Plan He noted the county did as FDOT directed by improving existing roads before building new ones Mr Donnelly stated it is important to understand why Levy and Alachua countys said no to this proposal He presented a 5 page handout which includes a 2 page proposed letter from Alachua County a 2 page letter from Levy County Commissioners and a colored Map 1 Marion County 2035 Future Land Use Map (FLUM) Mr Donnelly stated as long as this proposal is on the table the community is an unstable place from a business perspective as no one likes to invest in uncertainty or purchase property when they do not know if their property will be part of an exit a turnpike pipeline or service plaza This is not just about a road it is about a taking of a ROW to allow anything to happen He urged the Board to stay the course and follow the adopted plans to protect the countys heritage and future Charles Lee Director of Advocacy Audobon Florida Audobon Way Maitland and member of the 1-75 Relief Task Force asked the Board to pass a Resolution pointedly
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requesting Governor Rick Scott to direct that the Executive Director of FTE discontinue this study This study should go no further and it is important to understand the costs of simply dependency of this study remaining in place the cost of tax dollars to conduct the study but more importantly are the costs to the lives of the people who are being disrupted because the study is in progress He stated it is important to note that throughout the presentation the 2 brief mentions given by the turnpike group here today did not tell you that the recommendation by the Task Force was not to do what they are currently doing Lura Bergh NW 90th Avenue Reddick stated this is a poorly planned area that FDOT decided to put the Coastal Connector through She commented on connecting on 1-10 would be a much better route Annette Plouffe SW 140th Avenue Dunnellon advised from her seat in the audience that her comments have all been stated Commissioner Gold out at 331 pm Douglas Shearer SE 85th Street commented on the future driverless vehicles and suggested making 1-75 a partial toll road for trucks and charge more for trucks using the road during the day He stated there are a lot of ways to relieve 1-75 noting a path from Tampa to Jacksonville can be made Michelle Shearer SE 85th Street stated the county should not waste any more time on this and urged the Board to tell Governor Scott not in Marion County Tami Bobo NW 90th Avenue presented a 1 page handout which she read into the record Todd Wojciehowski SE 32nd Avenue Ocala Breeders Sales Company (OBS) SW 60th Avenue stated this project has the potential to dramatically change the landscape of Marion County He commented on the economic impacts as it applies to OBS OBS is a thoroughbred auction company and feed mill that has been in business in Marion County for 40 years It is the center of commerce for the thoroughbred race horse industry as well as the marketing segment and tool for the State of Florida He advised that the numbers he is about to give are real not projections Since 2010 OBS has sold nearly 22000 horses for over $1000000000 with the vast majority of these horses either being raised or receiving their early training in Marion County the recently concluded OBS April sale generated a record $69000000 in sales in 4 days OBS is truly an international market place as buyers who come to sales represent 38 different countries and 49 of the 50 states in the United States (US) Of those buyers 80 percent () come from out of town which means they come to our community This is only 1 fraction of the horse industry there are multiple disciplines and breeds Bruce Borders Branford North Florida Farm Association Board of Directors stated he drove 100 miles one way to get here today just to say No Build He advised that Borders Farm on his mothers side goes back 8 generations noting all he knows is farming and landscaping Mr Borders stated American family farms are endangered species Commissioner Gold returned at 341 pm Ann Broken NW 114th Loop advised from her seat in the audience that her comments have already been stated Judy Etzler NW 219th Street Road Micanopy presented a 4 page handout which she read into the record expressing her objection to the Coastal Connector David Tillman SE 16th Avenue spoke in support of a route through Marion County He opined that there is a lot of economic opportunity for having this route come through the county but he does not feel that FDOT has performed its due diligence in a proper way
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to find a route that can meet all the needs Mr Tillman stated FDOT needs to be sent back to the drawing board to find a better route and impacts fewer people Elaine Vinson West Highway 326 stated the propose route will supposedly take 500 feet off the front of her property She commented on having the soil in Marion County for raising horses which is something that should be considered Tony Beresford NW 90th Avenue commented on the process that seems to go back to 1980 when there was talk of building a road not necessarily a toll road between Tampa and Jacksonville which is the directive that was given to the consultants He opined that the Governor needs to step in and stop this connector Linda Pizzonia West Highway 326 advised that the Coastal Connector greatly affects their business farm and way of life She opined that the connector will ruin Marion County Louise Coates NW 90th Avenue presented 2 Google Earth Maps noting she spent some time on the Internet looking west of Marion County by Highway 19 where she found a possible route She stated it shows the possibility of another route that will not impact a lot of people and the horse farms In response to Chairman Bryant Ms Coates stated the maps were sent to FDOT and the BCC David MacKay Esquire SW College Road advised that he is representing Charlotte Weber owner of Live Oak Plantation noted that he submitted a letter earlier this week to Ms Bolan and Mr Cooke and copied the Board which pointed out the significant adverse impact of the proposed corridors specifically Alternatives C2 and D1 to the farm The 2 corridors will bisect the farm from one end to the other Additional support statistics as to the large economic impact that particular farm has in Marion County were also provided however it is only 1 farm in the agricultural industry of the county Where the routes come together on Highway 27 from there north basically splits CR 225 and CR 225-A which is a strategic part of the equine industry in Marion County The Coastal Connector will have a huge impact with respect to agricultural enterprise no matter where someone is located in Marion County Agricultural operations are not as easily relocated as some may think He advised that he looked over the 1-75 Relief Task Force Summary Report which concluded with this study started Mr MacKay expressed concern that Marion County is not mentioned anywhere in the report He opined that it behooves the county to appoint a point person in the system to be on top of this going forward Matt Varney NW 90th Avenue Ocala Horse Properties advised that he has 2 questions for the Board to ask FDOT and 1 complaint Have the members of FDOT in attendance been to Ocala before today If so have they had the chance to drive these proposed routes and what did they think He noted he keeps hearing this is very early in the study and these are just lines on a map however the reality is that these lines have put into question any perspective sale within one-half mile of these routes He noted many people in the attendance today have either bought or sold farms from him or his company and asked the Board to put themselves in the eyes of a future buyer right now Would any Commissioner buy in the wake of these routes with what is known at this time Mr Varney stated the study should be stopped Karin Lunau NW 100th Street and NW 35th Lane Road was not present when called up to speak Chairman Bryant read her comments on the sign-up card into the record Northern segment options both would bring more traffic to the most congested segment of 1-75 301 and 441 cannot accommodate more traffic I suggest a third northsouth corridor from Tampa to Highway 10 (EastWest)
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Tom Grabe advised that he owns 3 properties in northwest Marion County NW 80th Avenue (business address) NW 78th Court (residence) and NW 42nd Street (70 acre) that he recently purchased for his future home but maybe not now He addressed earlier comments by Ms Bolan in regard to planning for the future and questioned what residents are supposed to do while FDOT is planning for the future Mr Grabe stated he has plans for a home a barn and farm that is now on hold He advised that he has stopped his architect since he cannot plan for the future now and they are telling him that he may have an answer in 27 years Mr Grabe noted that Ms Bolan stated the PDampE for the initial part of this took 4 years but he noticed this has taken 2 years He inquired as to how he will sell his property now that one of the routes traverses his entire piece of property and the other 2 properties fall within one-quarter mile of the line on NW 90th Mr Grabe commented on refining the routes since they are not set in stone and questioned how they will refine routes they do not have He questioned whether Marion County wants to be a destination or a pit stop between Tampa and Jacksonville Chairman Bryant advised that public comment is now closed
There was a recess at 401 pm The meeting resumed at 405 pm with all members present except Commissioner Zalak
BOARD DISCUSSION Chairman Bryant stated FDOT will now address questions posed noting Commissioners may also have a few more questions She noted that Ms Hunt asked why the choke point of Highway 27 and NW 90th Avenue were chosen Commissioner Zalak returned at 406 pm Mr Schnell stated the area of Highway 27 was initially chosen because of the traffic both existing and future He noted this is very preliminary and can be moved in another direction Chairman Bryant inquired if someone gave them direction to use Highway 27 or if it was based solely on traffic Mr Schnell advised that it was solely based on traffic Chairman Bryant referred to an article in the Ocala Star Banner newspaper dated October 14 2017 that stated input was received from local representatives and inquired as to who those representatives were Ms Bolan stated they met with some of the staff from Marion and Citrus counties as well as the cities of Crystal River Dunnellon and Inverness She clarified that they also received input from the public at their meetings Chairman Bryant noted Ms Hunt also questioned whether any routes were chosen to support any economic development projects occurring in Marion County at this time Ms Bolan stated they are not aware of doing that however they do look at the land use and maybe knowing some developments are coming which are considerations but there is not one in particular as they have no special interest in this noting it is a transportation project to try and plan for the future infrastructure needed in the area Chairman Bryant noted one other question was whether FDOT knows what the reasons were for being told to stay away from SR 200 and Highway 41 Mr Schnell stated if he recalls correctly he believes SR 200 was because of some environmental features along that area approaching the Withlacoochee River and concern with Highway 41 going through the City of Dunnellon Commissioner Zalak expressed his appreciation for FDOT for taking the time to be here today and advised that his request is to stop the routes as it really puts a choke hold on the equine industry at this point He understands that FDOT will always be studying
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routes The county is always trying to figure out how to move people around in the most efficient and effective manner which is what FDOT is trying to do Commissioner Zalak spoke to the uniqueness of Marion County and the equine industry and expressed his hopes that FDOT will take that into consideration He stated if the route has to go through Marion County he would like to sit down and find the best route for the county that does not impact the horse farms Commissioner Zalak stated there may be some existing corridors with better options and requested that these options be taken off the table Mr Cooke stated they would love to work with staff and the commission to perhaps come up with another corridor that is different than what is seen today Commissioner Moore commented on growing up in Crystal River and encouraged FDOT to look at Highway 19 He noted Levy and Alachua counties have said no and it is not right that Marion County should have a problem because those 2 counties said no The most logical route was what they had in the 1980 where the route ran up into Levy County and either at Trenton or Lebanon Station it cut over Commissioner Moore recommended FDOT revisit some of the logical routes rather than going through the heart of horse country He noted another route takes you over to the east and runs up through publicly owned lands however there are some environmental considerations Commissioner Gold advised that he pulled the maps for Highway 19 and asked if FDOT has looked at that route Ms Bolan stated Highway 19 is a longer route and is a little counterintuitive if you are trying to go from Tampa to Jacksonville She advised that the Hurricane Evacuation Committee with the Legislature had asked to look at noting there was going to be a study looking straight up Highway 19 or north up to 1-10 but that was recently vetoed so that study stopped FDOT can take these things into consideration Commissioner Gold urged FDOT to look at Highway 19 noting there is a slight shift to the west but it is not as significant as he originally thought Mr Cooke opined that is possible and noted it was something that had also been mentioned in a lot of comments Commissioner Stone expressed her appreciation to FDOTs flexibility and conversation she had with Mr Cooke prior to this workshop which gave her some ease knowing that they are here to listen and believes they are hearing the comments loud and clear She inquired as to how they refine what you do not have since these are non-committed lines drawn on the maps Mr Cooke commented on adjusting the corridors maybe east or west of where they are today in the general area of where they are He noted that a lot of speakers today are certainly not in favor of that at all but that was the refinement looking at an existing corridor and perhaps shifting it 500 feet 1000 feet or one-quarter mile one way or the other Mr Cooke advised that they hear what is being said they are listening and will look at alternatives He stated they will work with staff to hopefully come up with a solution that is workable for everyone Henry Pinzon Turnpike Environmental Management Engineer stated what is seen here is very important and expressed his appreciation for input from the Board and public today He stated he hears the concern with the corridors today and advised that they are going back to the drawing table to come with new ideas The plan is to meet with county staff as well as city staff to come up with a better solution Commissioner Stone stated the input from staff will come from the BCC She advised that her direction to staff is that these routes cannot be considered at all period The 500 foot and 300 foot variances will not work for this refinement means she wants them totally erased
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Mr Schell advised that they are in agreement with that noting it is not just refinement it is elimination and looking at something else altogether Commissioner Stone stated elimination is a great way to reference the corridors Commissioner Zalak stated from a toll perspective he can see monetarily why a route to JacksonvilleTampa may be important from a logistical standpoint and other travelers going updown northsouth 1-75 1-95 as well as other corridors northsouth of Highway 19 He stated FDOT must have some perspective on the money to fund a toll route from Tampa to Jacksonville He inquired about a toll route that is a 3 rd corridor that runs northsouth and questioned if that has been evaluated by the Toll Commission Mr Pinzon stated they need to evaluate routes that have a good potential to be economically feasible If you look at a 100 mile route going to the north with no real road crossings it is going to be very difficult to make that road financially feasible Commissioner Moore addressed earlier comment about monorail and whether a monorail system has been considered Ms Bolan advised that as part of the 1-75 Relief Task Force there was some recommendations to look at rail studies There is currently an ongoing study that FDOT out of Tallahassee has been performing looking at some of the existing rail corridors and rail options however rail is not part of the turnpike portion of FDOT She stated they cannot speak specifically for that but there is an ongoing study and they can get the BCC in touch with those folks working on that study Commissioner Moore commented on airport hubs and questioned why something like this would not go over toward Williston where there is a regional airport and away from other areas Ms Bolan stated a lot of it is based on future traffic projections General discussion ensued
CLOSING COMMENTS Chairman Bryant thanked FDOT once again for coming here today and listening to concerns from Marion County It is very evident that residents are concerned about what is happening in their community especially the northwest and western part of the county The countys agricultural community encompasses a lot of different things as was heard today and encompasses farming the thoroughbred industry not just northwest Marion County but the entire county The routes proposed go through northwest and west Marion County both of which are represented by herself and Commissioner Stone Chairman Bryant opined that the Board is asking for elimination of all proposed routes She advised that the county has started to craft a Resolution noting copies have been provided to fellow commissioners The Resolution will likely be presented at the next BCC meeting (June 5 2018) as action cannot be taken at a workshop however general consensus can be given Chairman Bryant asked that a copy of the proposed Resolution be forwarded to FDOT so they can see what is in it which talks a lot about the impact that Coastal Connector would bring to Marion County specifically to citizens talked about today Chairman Bryant asked that FDOT take that into consideration and that they quickly come out publicly and let it be known that you are no longer considering the routes as proposed As heard today these proposed routes do affect peoples lives and plans as well as real estate sales because if you know something like this is planned in your backyard you have to disclose that information to a prospective buyer which is a valid point This also makes a difference as far as people investing more into the community Chairman Bryant spoke to fellow commissioners about the Resolution that was handed out to each of them and asked that they look it over She stated if a commissioner would
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like to have anything added before the next meeting on June 5 2018 to contact the County Attorney and asked if there are any questions or suggestions at this time Chairman Bryant advised that if she has Board consensus the Resolution will be on the next BCC Agenda It was the general consensus of the Board to agree to placing the Resolution on the June 5 2018 BCC Agenda Commissioner Stone advised that she has already provided input to Mr Minter Chairman Bryant asked that FDOT go back to what the 1-75 Relief Task Force was talking about noting there was a route in the recommendation that made a lot of sense and did not impact folks like it does Marion County now Chairman Bryant reiterated her thanks to FDOT for coming out today and listening noting the Boards job is not always easy and today FDOTs job is not easy She voiced her hope that those in the audience will thank FDOT for coming and participating today Commissioner Gold advised that the Resolution includes a request to the Governor Commissioner Stone thanked FDOT for its flexibility and hearing the county She stated she looks forward to FDOTs formal elimination of these routes
It was noted for the record that the Deputy Clerk received a 4 page brochure regarding the Coastal Connector from County Engineer Tracy Straub OCE a 3 page document from Calvin amp Lynda Miller a large map from John Rudinanyn and a 15 page document from Judy Greenberg
There being no further business to come before the Board the meeting thereupon adjourned at 426 pm
athy B nt Chairman
Attest
David R Ellsp mann Clerk
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there is a 1-hour time limit Chairman Bryant also asked that speakers not repeat one another noting those signed up to speak can also waive in support or agree to the previous speaker(s) She noted that once public comment is concluded the Board will have some discussion Chairman Bryant advised that the Board cannot take formal action at a workshop meeting however they can have a general consensus Chairman Bryant asked that those in the audience move in to open up seats so that those standing can be seated since you cannot stand next to the doors It was noted that several people were left standing along the wall as no seats were available Chairman Bryant further asked those with cell phones to either turn them off or put them on vibrate (silence them) so as not to interfere in the conversation She noted those in the lobby can also hear the meeting
The Deputy Clerk received a 1 page Agenda outline and a document entitled Coastal Connector Study Briefing containing 17 slides and 4 page pamphlet entitled Alternative Corridor Evaluation (ACE) Study Corridor Alternatives Public Meeting from the Spring of 2018
COASTAL CONNECTOR STUDY BRIEFING David Cooke FDOT Turnpike Planning Manager David Cooke Planning Manager for FDOT Floridas Turnpike Enterprise thanked the Board for receiving them today noting they have been having a lot of comments and are listening to all of the countys constituents He noted that the project team is present today and introduced Steve Schell FDOTs consultant Project Manager who is working on the study as well as Becky Bolan FDOTs Turnpike Project Manager Mr Cooke advised that Ms Bolan will give the presentation and staff will be available to answer questions
Rebecca Bolan PE Project Manager for Floridas Turnpike Enterprise (Montgomery Consulting Group) Becky Bolan advised that she works as the Florida Turnpikes Project Manager on the study and works for Montgomery Consulting Group which is a consultant and extension of Turnpike staff She noted she physically works in the building with FDOT staff in the Environmental Management Office Ms Bolan stated they are listening to the public noting that is where they are in this phase of the study listening Some things have been shown and they will be modifying adopting changing moving and eliminating which is why they are here They want to engage with those here in the county cities and stakeholders as well as recognizing the importance of Marion County varied business horses and agriculture Ms Bolan stated this is a planning study and noted they are early into the process She referred to the PowerPoint presentation noting Slide 1 is titled Study Briefing This is an early planning study and FDOT is working to try and plan for future transportation needs which is something to keep in mind Other slides will speak to the schedule and the process FDOT is following to provide safe transportation alternatives for future generations FDOTs Mission is to provide a safe transportation system that ensures the mobility of people and goods enhances economic prosperity and preserves the quality of our environment and communities Slide 2 addresses the Agenda where the study information will be spoken about however the presentation from Corridor Alternatives Public Meetings from 42618 and
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5118 will not be shown since it is a video that was shared at the public information meetings and is available online at wwwcoastalconnectorcom Slide 3 contains a map of Marion and Citrus counties which are the study areas as this is the start of the overall connection between the Tampa to Jacksonville corridor This was a future corridor that was developed and studied by FDOT so this first piece between Citrus and Marion counties is the start of the overall goal of having a connector between the Tampa Bay area and Jacksonville Commissioner Stone questioned when the study began Ms Bolan stated it started in the late winterfall of 2016 Ms Bolan stated it is hoped that by the end of this study that they may have a recommendation to move forward and continue the study moving on to Project Development amp Environment (PDampE) Study Phase She noted there may be a decision that they no longer want to do a study but they may find something that is agreeable to everyone so that they can move and continue to study into the PDampE Phase The PDampE Phase is where the environmental studies are conducted as well as looking at social and physical community impacts to either try to avoid minimize or mitigate those impacts which is the process FDOT follows There is always the option to have a No Build which means nothing is done or there is a recommended alternative to move forward If they make it through the PDampE process and reach a point where there is a recommended alternative to move forward then they move into the Design Phase The Design Phase is more detail oriented Purchase of needed rights-of-way (ROW) would follow the Design Phase which is then followed by construction Currently nothing is funded in FDOTs 5shyYear Work Program for any of the phases after the Planning Study Ms Bolan advised that they like to plan 20 30 40 years into the future and in order to do that they have to start early so that there is some infrastructure in place that can handle what has happened in the area by the time they get there She stated it takes a while to get through the Planning Phase to construction noting as an example the PDampE Study for the Suncoast Parkway 2 (SR 589) was started in 1994 and completed in 1998 for a 30 mile roadway FDOT began construction of the first 13 miles in 2018 which will take approximately 4 years to construct Slide 4 addresses purpose and need The purpose of the study is to evaluate the feasibility of a new transportation corridor to help address population growth congestion truck and visitor traffic as well as evacuation The project is needed to address transportation challenges in the future long-term infrastructure improvements that can help benefit access to the area including various features of concern businesses residents farming community and the horse industry FDOT wants to work with the county to come up with solutions that will benefit and help the entire community Slide 5 addresses the study schedule and public involvement Ms Bolan commented on the public kickoff meeting held in the fall of 2017 where they had a blank map of Citrus and Marion counties Those present were asked what would be needed in the next 20 to 40 years and where they thought they should go A number of people drew lines on the map She noted there is a lot of information they are still gathering Comments made at that first meeting was that they did not have anything to look at as there were no lines on the maps Something that was developed as part of the 1-75 Relief Task Force Study is the Land Suitability Mapping (LSM) which has a lot of layers and was approved by the various regulatory agencies The LSM helps identify where features are that you want to stay away from and where it might be available to go through
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FDOT reached out and has met with some cities and counties such as Marion County Citrus County City of Belleview Dunnellon Crystal River Inverness and some of their staff where they were asked the same questions Ms Bolan stated they will continue to work with everyone noting they have been invited to some of the equestrian facilities as well as farmlands She stated they will continue to meet with Marion County staff Citrus County and other municipalities as they proceed to evaluate and find something that is acceptable to the area Slide 6 addresses the study process Alternative Corridor Evaluation (ACE) process which was developed by FDOT to provide for a method for identifying and evaluating various corridors early in the process allows for input from stakeholders agencies and the public and meet the state and federal planning requirements for the next phase Slide 7 addresses recent meetings held in Citrus County and Marion County Ms Bolan advised that all of the information from these meetings can be found on the website She noted as the study continues other things will be posted to the website The website is where people can go to obtain information about the study and provide feedback Slide 8 covers the status update Initial outreach meetings have been conducted FDOT started to identify and present preliminary corridor alternatives and held corridor alternative public meetings Ms Bolan advised that the corridors were posted on the website on April 26th which is the date in the advertisement Slide 9 addresses current and future steps Ms Bolan noted they are continuing to take input from agencies and the public coordinating with cities counties and stakeholders in the area to continue with the study evaluation modify evaluate adjust and propose preliminary alternatives that might be acceptable engage and present additional or new alternatives to show the public to include additional public meetings and may have another public meeting to show a recommendation The study recommendation completion will be updated as there is currently no date although they were hoping for early next year which could change based on how things move forward with the study Slides 10 through 14 address the websites which show the different sections and hyperlinks to the homepage online meetings address lookup address lookup features and staying connected Slide 15 shows contact information for Ms Bolan and Mr Jung Slide 16 concludes the presentation Chairman Bryant thanked Ms Bolan for the presentation Commissioner Stone asked for help with understanding the routes and stated she cannot imagine anyone from Marion County helped draw some of the lines Consultant Project Manager Steve Schnell HDR Engineering West Forsyth Street Jacksonville stated Ms Bolan touched on it with the LSM noting this is what they are bound to as part of the early planning stage which is an acceptable methodology from the agencies He reiterated that this is very early in the planning stage noting there is a lot of data collection they have to do and is part of where they are as Ms Bolan stressed Mr Schnell stated these are just starting points lines on the map to start that discussion He advised that they are here today to get feedback and input In response to Chairman Bryant Mr Schnell stated at this stage they sat down and started looking at possible routes but have not yet gone into land use He commented on the 1-75 Relief Task Force Study and information provided noting priorities were put on that data collected The information was used and supplemented with additional information received that removed the subjectivity which is part of the first step The maps were prepared based solely on the information collected and regulatory
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requirements Wetlands and cultural resources are items that went to the top because there are federal requirements for those types of issues Commissioner Moore briefly commented on the national history of Marion County and Fort King which was the logistics capital noting all roads led to Fort King Commissioner Gold out at 234 pm He further commented on Ponce de Leon noting before Marion County was known as the Horse Capital of the World it was known as the Cattle Capital of the World because of the rich soil Commissioner Moore inquired as to why everything is going over to the west through the Horse Capital of the World and asked why the routes were not to the east where it would not negatively impact the horse industry which is where the roads were originally in the 1800s Mr Schell stated this is an interim process and they are here to gather information that has not been collected The overall objective at this point for starting to look at that area around Highway 326 was to get improved connectivity to Jacksonville in the future 30 years from now The reason for focusing on the Highway 326 area to start with is because of traffic on US Highway 301 today and into the future A large portion of todays and future traffic uses the 326 interchange to access 1-75 and other roads in that area which has somewhat set the northern termini for the alternatives The southern termini was set by the Suncoast Connector Suncoast Parkway To make those points connect FDOT is using terminology that is acceptable by the agencies Commissioner Moore questioned going to the east noting one advantage of going to the east is that much of it is publicly owned property which would help in regard to eminent domain Mr Schell stated those are items FDOT can look at going to the east further north or west noting comments were received about possibly going to Highways 316 318 and even further north He noted that through this process the No Build is always an option looking at the long list of items they have to analyze evaluate and compare Commissioner Gold returned at 237 pm Mr Schell stated there is still much to be done noting this is a feasibility study and they are looking at whether or not this is even feasible County Attorney Matthew G Minter commented on the LSM methodology used and inquired as to the criteria that defines suitability Mr Schell advised that it is based on sensitivity when that information was gathered as part of the 1-75 relief effort the agencies weighed in on their priorities which have regulatory requirements attached to them (eg wetlands and cultural resources) In response to Mr Minter Mr Schell stated this is the follow-up step to the suitability map that identifies sensitive areas What is seen in the handout in terms of the comparison is a high level snapshot as this moves forward the agencies weigh in on that evaluation criteria however they have not yet gotten to that step Mr Schell stated there are a whole range of issues they have to look at such as how the alternatives compare in terms of the purpose of need environmental (ie social physical natural) costs and how it relates to the Comprehensive Plan or other plans that have been done and whether it is consistent In response to Commissioner Stone Mr Schell advised that this is the starting point where they are gathering data and input He clarified that no decision has been made on any of this Commissioner Zalak referred to the alternatives noting all segments come together at the 2 points and questioned how that selection was made noting materials from the 1-75 Relief Task Force to produce part of this study however this has nothing to do with
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relieving traffic from 1-75 Mr Schell agreed that this has nothing to do with relieving traffic from 1-75 and clarified that the only information that was used from the 1-75 Relief Task Force was information that was put into the LSM Commissioner Zalak clarified that they are 2 different purposes one is to relieve 1-75 and this one is simply to connect Tampa Bay and Jacksonville Mr Schell advised that this will have some benefit to 1-75 but that is not the main objective noting hurricane evacuation is a need but is not the primary need He stated there is a wide range of things they are looking to address and is different from 1-75 In response to Commissioner Zalak Mr Schell stated the primary need here is to ultimately improve connectivity to northeast Florida Commissioner Zalak commented on the need for all routes to concedemerge onto Highway 27 and asked what is special about that point Mr Schell stated there is nothing special they broke the segments up into a northern and southern segment so everything at the southern segment is at Highway 27 the reason that point was initially selected is based on the traffic He noted they have to have an apples-to-apples comparison when comparing alternatives same beginning and end point For FDOT to compare the southern alternative for the southern segments (apples-to-apples) they have to the same termini Mr Schell advised that they can certainly move noting this is the starting point for this evaluation Commissioner Zalak questioned whether a toll road like this could be used in conjunction with current roadways that already have ROW at some level Ms Bolan advised that as part of the 1-75 Relief Study there was a North 1-75 Master Plan which looked at 1-75 Highways 41 301 and 27 which can be found on their website under the documents section She noted the 1-75 Relief process used existing roadways which were looked at looking out into the future Based on projected traffic and congestion that will occur in the future years the study said that those existing corridors cannot handle all of the traffic and even improving some of those existing corridors will create tremendous impacts Improving existing corridors is an option but the county will still have impacts if everything will not fit within the existing ROW Commissioner Zalak commented on the study and asked if Ms Bolan had any recollection from the study as to how far off those are for example if you were going to improve existing corridors to a certain point how much more traffic will there actually be from a projected level Ms Bolan stated they would have to get invested into the details but there are some things to think about The turnpike is looking at some studies in the Orlando area and Wekiva Parkway where they have actually taken some existing corridor and kept the local access on the outsides and put the expressway in the middle so that both are kept which may be an option for some of these corridors however when you do that you may not be able to fit it in the existing ROW and additional property may have to be taken She noted there are impacts to areas outside those existing corridors Commissioner Zalak concurred noting no matter which way you choose roadways and other areas will be impacted Mr Schell advised that when they first met with County staff they were advised of roadway they were not to take a look at (eg SR 200 some medians and US Highway 41 going through Dunnellon) He stated they can go back and look at some of those existing roads and possibly using them but they want to have that coordination before moving forward to make sure they are not making an issue worse One of the first things they looked at was transmission lines easements areas that were already disturbed where they could run a possible alternative along
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Mr Schell referred to Slide 17 addressing Corridor Alternative Segments noting Alternative C1 and Alternative C2 are in Citrus County with an easement that runs east and west The objective there was to follow that easement The one farthest east (shown in orange) is adjacent or close to SR 200 uses an easement that crosses the Withlacoochee River To some extent they did look at existing roads but more so they were looking at easements or other areas that were possibly already disturbed Chairman Bryant thanked Messrs Cooke and Schnell as well as Ms Bolan for giving the presentation today She advised that she will ask several elected officials (Mayor Guinn Mayor Green Representative Stone and Representative McClain) if they wish to speak now or after public comment noting their time will not be included in the 1-hour time limit Ms Bolan stated they are listening and would like to continue to work with county staff (ie Engineering and Planning staff) and other municipalities and their staff as well as the equestrian communities agricultural communities and businesses that are important to this area Chairman Bryant reiterated earlier comment that this is very early in the planning stage and nothing has been cast in stone nor is there any funding for this project She stated FDOT could go back at the end of the day and say No Build
GENERAL PUBLIC COMMENT All members of the public wishing to speak during the General Public portion of the agenda will be limited to two (2) minutes to make their comments regarding the Coastal Connector At the discretion of the Chairman public comment will be heard for a total of one-hour Mayor Kent Guinn City of Ocala noted this is very early in the process which is a great time to stop it He stated it is his understanding that folks in Gainesville Alachua County asked that this not go through their county but is not sure that is correct Mayor Guinn urged the group to find a different route as this is the heart and soul of Marion County He noted his family came here in 1850 and urged the BCC to prepare a Resolution to say they are absolutely against the Coastal Connector Mayor Guinn further stated he is hopeful that the Ocala City Council will also adopt a Resolution to mirror the countys Mayor Walter Green City of Dunnellon advised that the city is currently working on its Resolution noting they want this entire issue stopped He stated he cannot recall an issue that has united our people in opposition to anything as this particular item noting he was raised in Dunnellon He commended Mr Cooke and his team as they have done a good job in relaying exactly what they know Mayor Green stated the route should continue to red level as was originally designed He noted the state currently owns a corridor (US Highway19) that is underutilized the map in the handout does not show Highway 19 only Ocala and Dunnellon This is a northsouth issue not an eastwest issue Mayor Green assured everyone that you do not go from one coast to another during a hurricane as hurricanes span the State of Florida He opined that they should go back to the original plan Representative Stan McClain advised from his seat in the audience that he has nothing further to add Representative Charlie Stone advised from his seat in the audience that he has nothing further to add Chairman Bryant noted that many who signed up to speak were here Tuesday May 15 2018 and are aware of what was said by the Board She asked that speakers keep their comments direct and to the point so that others can have an opportunity to also speak Margie Husted SW 61St Place Road advised from her seat in the audience that Mayor Green spoke for her
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Annette Stutzman SW 192nd Court Romeo agreed with Mayor Greens comments She commented on the possible routes and recommended FDOT stop the Coastal Connector Alternative Corridor evaluation today and have no toll road Connie Bryant SW 31st Street Dunnellon stated a lot of what she wanted to say has already been said but the Coastal Connector will destroy Marion County She advised that she is opposed Kristin Schlegel SW 121st Terrace advised that she purchased her property because it backed up to Florida Forever protected land She commented on proposed construction of a roadway made for environmentally sensitive areas and the impact on wildlife Ms Schlegal expressed her support for the widening of 1-75 and improving existing infrastructure She advised that the turnpike is in terrible condition Kimberly Carp NW 110th Avenue Horse Country Carriage Company and Tours Kimberden Farm the University of Florida and Trinity Catholic Equestrian Team advised that she is opposed to the Coastal Connector The fallout from the loss of farmland will have negative effects on many sectors of the local economy including ecotourism She demanded that the Costal Connector routes for Marion County be formally withdrawn immediately Mary Jane Hunt NW 90th Avenue presented a 1page handout addressing her questions to FDOT which she read into the record She expressed her appreciation to FDOT representatives for coming today Kathrin Dancer NW 80th Avenue commented on how she learned about the Coastal Connection as she was never notified about the road possibilities She expressed concern with the impact on her property Marie Schinman NW 82nd Court (Forest of Golden Hills) commented on the impact to her property and others in the area James Scott SW 19th Avenue Road General Manager Kinsman Stud Farm and President of the Florida Thoroughbred Farm Managers thanked the Board and FDOT for todays workshop He advised that they are vigorously opposed to the Coastal Connector Manuel Escalante NW 115th Avenue commented on the port-to-port highway which basically tells us that the priority for the State of Florida is businesses and is not taking into account the livelihood of Marion County He encouraged FDOT to take into account the status of Marion County and what the citizens are seeking David A Velez NW 120th Street Morriston noted the Coastal Connector proposal goes through the heart of Marion County He inquired as to what community is asking for this project Mr Velez advised that this is a democracy and the people here respectfully request our elected officials to act accordingly Richard Olsen NW 100th Avenue advised that on September 19 2017 the House of Representatives created a select committee on hurricane responses and preparedness who were charged to gather information solicit ideas and make recommendations on how to better prepare for future hurricanes Their final report was issued on January 16 2018 where the first set of recommendations was that of evacuations Among the recommended improvements was to extend the Suncoast Highway to the Georgia (GA) state line to provide another northsouth evacuation option Nowhere in the Floridas Turnpike Enterprise (FTE) Study was this route mentioned nor were others such as the route north of Gainesville for a possible connection to 1-10 He opined that this is a matter of public safety which commissioners have always made that paramount in any decisions made To risk the safety of thousands for the benefit of a few is reprehensible
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Joan Pletcher S Highway 475 advised that she represents landowners people she has sold land to who all came to Marion County because of the beautiful land peace and quiet She opined that FDOT BCC and Secretary of State need to recognize what our horse industry and agriculture bring to the State of Florida She urged the Board to vote against the Coastal Connector and ask FDOT to find another place Henry J Munoz Marion Oaks Boulevard commented on the toll road which puts it under the Toll Commission Authority not FDOT and questioned who will have oversight He further questioned why the proposal is to go from Tampa to Jacksonville rather than going north Mr Munoz asked what happened to rail and commented on eminent domain He stated now is the time to expand 1-75 Commissioner Gold left his seat at 319 pm but did not leave the auditorium Amy Agricola West Anthony Road advised that her property is not on the map but she is here to support the entire community of Marion County noting she has a few questions that were raised during the presentation She inquired as to who asked that Highway 41 and SR 200 not be looked at because it did not come from the public Ms Agricola stated she does not understand why we are looking at this when we could be looking at different things such as rail monorails or public transportation noting this is outdated technology She asked that the county be formally withdrawn from this study to save taxpayer dollars Lonny Powell Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Florida Thoroughbred Breeders and Owners Association (FTBOA) SW 60th Avenue noted he is also a resident of Dunnellon Commissioner Gold returned to his seat at 321 pm He stated the Boards discussion at their meeting on Tuesday (May 15 2018) to adopt a Resolution opposing the Coastal Connector is the appropriate action noting residents are also counting on our Senators Representatives Governors Office and Gubernatorial Candidates to also show the same courage as the BCC Mr Powell advised that on May 14 2018 a letter was sent to FDOT and the Board stating their position Janet Barrow SW 164th Avenue Road Dunnellon opined that the State of Florida needs to redefine what progress is because building more roads to accommodate more people will eventually not work She stated the studies are flawed and commented on Alternative C2 which crosses the gas pipeline over a sinkhole that was filled in with dirt and was described in FDOTs Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) as a shallow depression Ms Barrow noted she is watching what the state and federal government and local officials are doing She expressed her support for No Build Brian Donnelly West Anthony Road stated it is important for FDOT to understand why the Coastal Connector is not for Marion County it does not fit with the goals and objectives of the Master Plan He noted the county did as FDOT directed by improving existing roads before building new ones Mr Donnelly stated it is important to understand why Levy and Alachua countys said no to this proposal He presented a 5 page handout which includes a 2 page proposed letter from Alachua County a 2 page letter from Levy County Commissioners and a colored Map 1 Marion County 2035 Future Land Use Map (FLUM) Mr Donnelly stated as long as this proposal is on the table the community is an unstable place from a business perspective as no one likes to invest in uncertainty or purchase property when they do not know if their property will be part of an exit a turnpike pipeline or service plaza This is not just about a road it is about a taking of a ROW to allow anything to happen He urged the Board to stay the course and follow the adopted plans to protect the countys heritage and future Charles Lee Director of Advocacy Audobon Florida Audobon Way Maitland and member of the 1-75 Relief Task Force asked the Board to pass a Resolution pointedly
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requesting Governor Rick Scott to direct that the Executive Director of FTE discontinue this study This study should go no further and it is important to understand the costs of simply dependency of this study remaining in place the cost of tax dollars to conduct the study but more importantly are the costs to the lives of the people who are being disrupted because the study is in progress He stated it is important to note that throughout the presentation the 2 brief mentions given by the turnpike group here today did not tell you that the recommendation by the Task Force was not to do what they are currently doing Lura Bergh NW 90th Avenue Reddick stated this is a poorly planned area that FDOT decided to put the Coastal Connector through She commented on connecting on 1-10 would be a much better route Annette Plouffe SW 140th Avenue Dunnellon advised from her seat in the audience that her comments have all been stated Commissioner Gold out at 331 pm Douglas Shearer SE 85th Street commented on the future driverless vehicles and suggested making 1-75 a partial toll road for trucks and charge more for trucks using the road during the day He stated there are a lot of ways to relieve 1-75 noting a path from Tampa to Jacksonville can be made Michelle Shearer SE 85th Street stated the county should not waste any more time on this and urged the Board to tell Governor Scott not in Marion County Tami Bobo NW 90th Avenue presented a 1 page handout which she read into the record Todd Wojciehowski SE 32nd Avenue Ocala Breeders Sales Company (OBS) SW 60th Avenue stated this project has the potential to dramatically change the landscape of Marion County He commented on the economic impacts as it applies to OBS OBS is a thoroughbred auction company and feed mill that has been in business in Marion County for 40 years It is the center of commerce for the thoroughbred race horse industry as well as the marketing segment and tool for the State of Florida He advised that the numbers he is about to give are real not projections Since 2010 OBS has sold nearly 22000 horses for over $1000000000 with the vast majority of these horses either being raised or receiving their early training in Marion County the recently concluded OBS April sale generated a record $69000000 in sales in 4 days OBS is truly an international market place as buyers who come to sales represent 38 different countries and 49 of the 50 states in the United States (US) Of those buyers 80 percent () come from out of town which means they come to our community This is only 1 fraction of the horse industry there are multiple disciplines and breeds Bruce Borders Branford North Florida Farm Association Board of Directors stated he drove 100 miles one way to get here today just to say No Build He advised that Borders Farm on his mothers side goes back 8 generations noting all he knows is farming and landscaping Mr Borders stated American family farms are endangered species Commissioner Gold returned at 341 pm Ann Broken NW 114th Loop advised from her seat in the audience that her comments have already been stated Judy Etzler NW 219th Street Road Micanopy presented a 4 page handout which she read into the record expressing her objection to the Coastal Connector David Tillman SE 16th Avenue spoke in support of a route through Marion County He opined that there is a lot of economic opportunity for having this route come through the county but he does not feel that FDOT has performed its due diligence in a proper way
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to find a route that can meet all the needs Mr Tillman stated FDOT needs to be sent back to the drawing board to find a better route and impacts fewer people Elaine Vinson West Highway 326 stated the propose route will supposedly take 500 feet off the front of her property She commented on having the soil in Marion County for raising horses which is something that should be considered Tony Beresford NW 90th Avenue commented on the process that seems to go back to 1980 when there was talk of building a road not necessarily a toll road between Tampa and Jacksonville which is the directive that was given to the consultants He opined that the Governor needs to step in and stop this connector Linda Pizzonia West Highway 326 advised that the Coastal Connector greatly affects their business farm and way of life She opined that the connector will ruin Marion County Louise Coates NW 90th Avenue presented 2 Google Earth Maps noting she spent some time on the Internet looking west of Marion County by Highway 19 where she found a possible route She stated it shows the possibility of another route that will not impact a lot of people and the horse farms In response to Chairman Bryant Ms Coates stated the maps were sent to FDOT and the BCC David MacKay Esquire SW College Road advised that he is representing Charlotte Weber owner of Live Oak Plantation noted that he submitted a letter earlier this week to Ms Bolan and Mr Cooke and copied the Board which pointed out the significant adverse impact of the proposed corridors specifically Alternatives C2 and D1 to the farm The 2 corridors will bisect the farm from one end to the other Additional support statistics as to the large economic impact that particular farm has in Marion County were also provided however it is only 1 farm in the agricultural industry of the county Where the routes come together on Highway 27 from there north basically splits CR 225 and CR 225-A which is a strategic part of the equine industry in Marion County The Coastal Connector will have a huge impact with respect to agricultural enterprise no matter where someone is located in Marion County Agricultural operations are not as easily relocated as some may think He advised that he looked over the 1-75 Relief Task Force Summary Report which concluded with this study started Mr MacKay expressed concern that Marion County is not mentioned anywhere in the report He opined that it behooves the county to appoint a point person in the system to be on top of this going forward Matt Varney NW 90th Avenue Ocala Horse Properties advised that he has 2 questions for the Board to ask FDOT and 1 complaint Have the members of FDOT in attendance been to Ocala before today If so have they had the chance to drive these proposed routes and what did they think He noted he keeps hearing this is very early in the study and these are just lines on a map however the reality is that these lines have put into question any perspective sale within one-half mile of these routes He noted many people in the attendance today have either bought or sold farms from him or his company and asked the Board to put themselves in the eyes of a future buyer right now Would any Commissioner buy in the wake of these routes with what is known at this time Mr Varney stated the study should be stopped Karin Lunau NW 100th Street and NW 35th Lane Road was not present when called up to speak Chairman Bryant read her comments on the sign-up card into the record Northern segment options both would bring more traffic to the most congested segment of 1-75 301 and 441 cannot accommodate more traffic I suggest a third northsouth corridor from Tampa to Highway 10 (EastWest)
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Tom Grabe advised that he owns 3 properties in northwest Marion County NW 80th Avenue (business address) NW 78th Court (residence) and NW 42nd Street (70 acre) that he recently purchased for his future home but maybe not now He addressed earlier comments by Ms Bolan in regard to planning for the future and questioned what residents are supposed to do while FDOT is planning for the future Mr Grabe stated he has plans for a home a barn and farm that is now on hold He advised that he has stopped his architect since he cannot plan for the future now and they are telling him that he may have an answer in 27 years Mr Grabe noted that Ms Bolan stated the PDampE for the initial part of this took 4 years but he noticed this has taken 2 years He inquired as to how he will sell his property now that one of the routes traverses his entire piece of property and the other 2 properties fall within one-quarter mile of the line on NW 90th Mr Grabe commented on refining the routes since they are not set in stone and questioned how they will refine routes they do not have He questioned whether Marion County wants to be a destination or a pit stop between Tampa and Jacksonville Chairman Bryant advised that public comment is now closed
There was a recess at 401 pm The meeting resumed at 405 pm with all members present except Commissioner Zalak
BOARD DISCUSSION Chairman Bryant stated FDOT will now address questions posed noting Commissioners may also have a few more questions She noted that Ms Hunt asked why the choke point of Highway 27 and NW 90th Avenue were chosen Commissioner Zalak returned at 406 pm Mr Schnell stated the area of Highway 27 was initially chosen because of the traffic both existing and future He noted this is very preliminary and can be moved in another direction Chairman Bryant inquired if someone gave them direction to use Highway 27 or if it was based solely on traffic Mr Schnell advised that it was solely based on traffic Chairman Bryant referred to an article in the Ocala Star Banner newspaper dated October 14 2017 that stated input was received from local representatives and inquired as to who those representatives were Ms Bolan stated they met with some of the staff from Marion and Citrus counties as well as the cities of Crystal River Dunnellon and Inverness She clarified that they also received input from the public at their meetings Chairman Bryant noted Ms Hunt also questioned whether any routes were chosen to support any economic development projects occurring in Marion County at this time Ms Bolan stated they are not aware of doing that however they do look at the land use and maybe knowing some developments are coming which are considerations but there is not one in particular as they have no special interest in this noting it is a transportation project to try and plan for the future infrastructure needed in the area Chairman Bryant noted one other question was whether FDOT knows what the reasons were for being told to stay away from SR 200 and Highway 41 Mr Schnell stated if he recalls correctly he believes SR 200 was because of some environmental features along that area approaching the Withlacoochee River and concern with Highway 41 going through the City of Dunnellon Commissioner Zalak expressed his appreciation for FDOT for taking the time to be here today and advised that his request is to stop the routes as it really puts a choke hold on the equine industry at this point He understands that FDOT will always be studying
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routes The county is always trying to figure out how to move people around in the most efficient and effective manner which is what FDOT is trying to do Commissioner Zalak spoke to the uniqueness of Marion County and the equine industry and expressed his hopes that FDOT will take that into consideration He stated if the route has to go through Marion County he would like to sit down and find the best route for the county that does not impact the horse farms Commissioner Zalak stated there may be some existing corridors with better options and requested that these options be taken off the table Mr Cooke stated they would love to work with staff and the commission to perhaps come up with another corridor that is different than what is seen today Commissioner Moore commented on growing up in Crystal River and encouraged FDOT to look at Highway 19 He noted Levy and Alachua counties have said no and it is not right that Marion County should have a problem because those 2 counties said no The most logical route was what they had in the 1980 where the route ran up into Levy County and either at Trenton or Lebanon Station it cut over Commissioner Moore recommended FDOT revisit some of the logical routes rather than going through the heart of horse country He noted another route takes you over to the east and runs up through publicly owned lands however there are some environmental considerations Commissioner Gold advised that he pulled the maps for Highway 19 and asked if FDOT has looked at that route Ms Bolan stated Highway 19 is a longer route and is a little counterintuitive if you are trying to go from Tampa to Jacksonville She advised that the Hurricane Evacuation Committee with the Legislature had asked to look at noting there was going to be a study looking straight up Highway 19 or north up to 1-10 but that was recently vetoed so that study stopped FDOT can take these things into consideration Commissioner Gold urged FDOT to look at Highway 19 noting there is a slight shift to the west but it is not as significant as he originally thought Mr Cooke opined that is possible and noted it was something that had also been mentioned in a lot of comments Commissioner Stone expressed her appreciation to FDOTs flexibility and conversation she had with Mr Cooke prior to this workshop which gave her some ease knowing that they are here to listen and believes they are hearing the comments loud and clear She inquired as to how they refine what you do not have since these are non-committed lines drawn on the maps Mr Cooke commented on adjusting the corridors maybe east or west of where they are today in the general area of where they are He noted that a lot of speakers today are certainly not in favor of that at all but that was the refinement looking at an existing corridor and perhaps shifting it 500 feet 1000 feet or one-quarter mile one way or the other Mr Cooke advised that they hear what is being said they are listening and will look at alternatives He stated they will work with staff to hopefully come up with a solution that is workable for everyone Henry Pinzon Turnpike Environmental Management Engineer stated what is seen here is very important and expressed his appreciation for input from the Board and public today He stated he hears the concern with the corridors today and advised that they are going back to the drawing table to come with new ideas The plan is to meet with county staff as well as city staff to come up with a better solution Commissioner Stone stated the input from staff will come from the BCC She advised that her direction to staff is that these routes cannot be considered at all period The 500 foot and 300 foot variances will not work for this refinement means she wants them totally erased
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Mr Schell advised that they are in agreement with that noting it is not just refinement it is elimination and looking at something else altogether Commissioner Stone stated elimination is a great way to reference the corridors Commissioner Zalak stated from a toll perspective he can see monetarily why a route to JacksonvilleTampa may be important from a logistical standpoint and other travelers going updown northsouth 1-75 1-95 as well as other corridors northsouth of Highway 19 He stated FDOT must have some perspective on the money to fund a toll route from Tampa to Jacksonville He inquired about a toll route that is a 3 rd corridor that runs northsouth and questioned if that has been evaluated by the Toll Commission Mr Pinzon stated they need to evaluate routes that have a good potential to be economically feasible If you look at a 100 mile route going to the north with no real road crossings it is going to be very difficult to make that road financially feasible Commissioner Moore addressed earlier comment about monorail and whether a monorail system has been considered Ms Bolan advised that as part of the 1-75 Relief Task Force there was some recommendations to look at rail studies There is currently an ongoing study that FDOT out of Tallahassee has been performing looking at some of the existing rail corridors and rail options however rail is not part of the turnpike portion of FDOT She stated they cannot speak specifically for that but there is an ongoing study and they can get the BCC in touch with those folks working on that study Commissioner Moore commented on airport hubs and questioned why something like this would not go over toward Williston where there is a regional airport and away from other areas Ms Bolan stated a lot of it is based on future traffic projections General discussion ensued
CLOSING COMMENTS Chairman Bryant thanked FDOT once again for coming here today and listening to concerns from Marion County It is very evident that residents are concerned about what is happening in their community especially the northwest and western part of the county The countys agricultural community encompasses a lot of different things as was heard today and encompasses farming the thoroughbred industry not just northwest Marion County but the entire county The routes proposed go through northwest and west Marion County both of which are represented by herself and Commissioner Stone Chairman Bryant opined that the Board is asking for elimination of all proposed routes She advised that the county has started to craft a Resolution noting copies have been provided to fellow commissioners The Resolution will likely be presented at the next BCC meeting (June 5 2018) as action cannot be taken at a workshop however general consensus can be given Chairman Bryant asked that a copy of the proposed Resolution be forwarded to FDOT so they can see what is in it which talks a lot about the impact that Coastal Connector would bring to Marion County specifically to citizens talked about today Chairman Bryant asked that FDOT take that into consideration and that they quickly come out publicly and let it be known that you are no longer considering the routes as proposed As heard today these proposed routes do affect peoples lives and plans as well as real estate sales because if you know something like this is planned in your backyard you have to disclose that information to a prospective buyer which is a valid point This also makes a difference as far as people investing more into the community Chairman Bryant spoke to fellow commissioners about the Resolution that was handed out to each of them and asked that they look it over She stated if a commissioner would
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like to have anything added before the next meeting on June 5 2018 to contact the County Attorney and asked if there are any questions or suggestions at this time Chairman Bryant advised that if she has Board consensus the Resolution will be on the next BCC Agenda It was the general consensus of the Board to agree to placing the Resolution on the June 5 2018 BCC Agenda Commissioner Stone advised that she has already provided input to Mr Minter Chairman Bryant asked that FDOT go back to what the 1-75 Relief Task Force was talking about noting there was a route in the recommendation that made a lot of sense and did not impact folks like it does Marion County now Chairman Bryant reiterated her thanks to FDOT for coming out today and listening noting the Boards job is not always easy and today FDOTs job is not easy She voiced her hope that those in the audience will thank FDOT for coming and participating today Commissioner Gold advised that the Resolution includes a request to the Governor Commissioner Stone thanked FDOT for its flexibility and hearing the county She stated she looks forward to FDOTs formal elimination of these routes
It was noted for the record that the Deputy Clerk received a 4 page brochure regarding the Coastal Connector from County Engineer Tracy Straub OCE a 3 page document from Calvin amp Lynda Miller a large map from John Rudinanyn and a 15 page document from Judy Greenberg
There being no further business to come before the Board the meeting thereupon adjourned at 426 pm
athy B nt Chairman
Attest
David R Ellsp mann Clerk
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5118 will not be shown since it is a video that was shared at the public information meetings and is available online at wwwcoastalconnectorcom Slide 3 contains a map of Marion and Citrus counties which are the study areas as this is the start of the overall connection between the Tampa to Jacksonville corridor This was a future corridor that was developed and studied by FDOT so this first piece between Citrus and Marion counties is the start of the overall goal of having a connector between the Tampa Bay area and Jacksonville Commissioner Stone questioned when the study began Ms Bolan stated it started in the late winterfall of 2016 Ms Bolan stated it is hoped that by the end of this study that they may have a recommendation to move forward and continue the study moving on to Project Development amp Environment (PDampE) Study Phase She noted there may be a decision that they no longer want to do a study but they may find something that is agreeable to everyone so that they can move and continue to study into the PDampE Phase The PDampE Phase is where the environmental studies are conducted as well as looking at social and physical community impacts to either try to avoid minimize or mitigate those impacts which is the process FDOT follows There is always the option to have a No Build which means nothing is done or there is a recommended alternative to move forward If they make it through the PDampE process and reach a point where there is a recommended alternative to move forward then they move into the Design Phase The Design Phase is more detail oriented Purchase of needed rights-of-way (ROW) would follow the Design Phase which is then followed by construction Currently nothing is funded in FDOTs 5shyYear Work Program for any of the phases after the Planning Study Ms Bolan advised that they like to plan 20 30 40 years into the future and in order to do that they have to start early so that there is some infrastructure in place that can handle what has happened in the area by the time they get there She stated it takes a while to get through the Planning Phase to construction noting as an example the PDampE Study for the Suncoast Parkway 2 (SR 589) was started in 1994 and completed in 1998 for a 30 mile roadway FDOT began construction of the first 13 miles in 2018 which will take approximately 4 years to construct Slide 4 addresses purpose and need The purpose of the study is to evaluate the feasibility of a new transportation corridor to help address population growth congestion truck and visitor traffic as well as evacuation The project is needed to address transportation challenges in the future long-term infrastructure improvements that can help benefit access to the area including various features of concern businesses residents farming community and the horse industry FDOT wants to work with the county to come up with solutions that will benefit and help the entire community Slide 5 addresses the study schedule and public involvement Ms Bolan commented on the public kickoff meeting held in the fall of 2017 where they had a blank map of Citrus and Marion counties Those present were asked what would be needed in the next 20 to 40 years and where they thought they should go A number of people drew lines on the map She noted there is a lot of information they are still gathering Comments made at that first meeting was that they did not have anything to look at as there were no lines on the maps Something that was developed as part of the 1-75 Relief Task Force Study is the Land Suitability Mapping (LSM) which has a lot of layers and was approved by the various regulatory agencies The LSM helps identify where features are that you want to stay away from and where it might be available to go through
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FDOT reached out and has met with some cities and counties such as Marion County Citrus County City of Belleview Dunnellon Crystal River Inverness and some of their staff where they were asked the same questions Ms Bolan stated they will continue to work with everyone noting they have been invited to some of the equestrian facilities as well as farmlands She stated they will continue to meet with Marion County staff Citrus County and other municipalities as they proceed to evaluate and find something that is acceptable to the area Slide 6 addresses the study process Alternative Corridor Evaluation (ACE) process which was developed by FDOT to provide for a method for identifying and evaluating various corridors early in the process allows for input from stakeholders agencies and the public and meet the state and federal planning requirements for the next phase Slide 7 addresses recent meetings held in Citrus County and Marion County Ms Bolan advised that all of the information from these meetings can be found on the website She noted as the study continues other things will be posted to the website The website is where people can go to obtain information about the study and provide feedback Slide 8 covers the status update Initial outreach meetings have been conducted FDOT started to identify and present preliminary corridor alternatives and held corridor alternative public meetings Ms Bolan advised that the corridors were posted on the website on April 26th which is the date in the advertisement Slide 9 addresses current and future steps Ms Bolan noted they are continuing to take input from agencies and the public coordinating with cities counties and stakeholders in the area to continue with the study evaluation modify evaluate adjust and propose preliminary alternatives that might be acceptable engage and present additional or new alternatives to show the public to include additional public meetings and may have another public meeting to show a recommendation The study recommendation completion will be updated as there is currently no date although they were hoping for early next year which could change based on how things move forward with the study Slides 10 through 14 address the websites which show the different sections and hyperlinks to the homepage online meetings address lookup address lookup features and staying connected Slide 15 shows contact information for Ms Bolan and Mr Jung Slide 16 concludes the presentation Chairman Bryant thanked Ms Bolan for the presentation Commissioner Stone asked for help with understanding the routes and stated she cannot imagine anyone from Marion County helped draw some of the lines Consultant Project Manager Steve Schnell HDR Engineering West Forsyth Street Jacksonville stated Ms Bolan touched on it with the LSM noting this is what they are bound to as part of the early planning stage which is an acceptable methodology from the agencies He reiterated that this is very early in the planning stage noting there is a lot of data collection they have to do and is part of where they are as Ms Bolan stressed Mr Schnell stated these are just starting points lines on the map to start that discussion He advised that they are here today to get feedback and input In response to Chairman Bryant Mr Schnell stated at this stage they sat down and started looking at possible routes but have not yet gone into land use He commented on the 1-75 Relief Task Force Study and information provided noting priorities were put on that data collected The information was used and supplemented with additional information received that removed the subjectivity which is part of the first step The maps were prepared based solely on the information collected and regulatory
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requirements Wetlands and cultural resources are items that went to the top because there are federal requirements for those types of issues Commissioner Moore briefly commented on the national history of Marion County and Fort King which was the logistics capital noting all roads led to Fort King Commissioner Gold out at 234 pm He further commented on Ponce de Leon noting before Marion County was known as the Horse Capital of the World it was known as the Cattle Capital of the World because of the rich soil Commissioner Moore inquired as to why everything is going over to the west through the Horse Capital of the World and asked why the routes were not to the east where it would not negatively impact the horse industry which is where the roads were originally in the 1800s Mr Schell stated this is an interim process and they are here to gather information that has not been collected The overall objective at this point for starting to look at that area around Highway 326 was to get improved connectivity to Jacksonville in the future 30 years from now The reason for focusing on the Highway 326 area to start with is because of traffic on US Highway 301 today and into the future A large portion of todays and future traffic uses the 326 interchange to access 1-75 and other roads in that area which has somewhat set the northern termini for the alternatives The southern termini was set by the Suncoast Connector Suncoast Parkway To make those points connect FDOT is using terminology that is acceptable by the agencies Commissioner Moore questioned going to the east noting one advantage of going to the east is that much of it is publicly owned property which would help in regard to eminent domain Mr Schell stated those are items FDOT can look at going to the east further north or west noting comments were received about possibly going to Highways 316 318 and even further north He noted that through this process the No Build is always an option looking at the long list of items they have to analyze evaluate and compare Commissioner Gold returned at 237 pm Mr Schell stated there is still much to be done noting this is a feasibility study and they are looking at whether or not this is even feasible County Attorney Matthew G Minter commented on the LSM methodology used and inquired as to the criteria that defines suitability Mr Schell advised that it is based on sensitivity when that information was gathered as part of the 1-75 relief effort the agencies weighed in on their priorities which have regulatory requirements attached to them (eg wetlands and cultural resources) In response to Mr Minter Mr Schell stated this is the follow-up step to the suitability map that identifies sensitive areas What is seen in the handout in terms of the comparison is a high level snapshot as this moves forward the agencies weigh in on that evaluation criteria however they have not yet gotten to that step Mr Schell stated there are a whole range of issues they have to look at such as how the alternatives compare in terms of the purpose of need environmental (ie social physical natural) costs and how it relates to the Comprehensive Plan or other plans that have been done and whether it is consistent In response to Commissioner Stone Mr Schell advised that this is the starting point where they are gathering data and input He clarified that no decision has been made on any of this Commissioner Zalak referred to the alternatives noting all segments come together at the 2 points and questioned how that selection was made noting materials from the 1-75 Relief Task Force to produce part of this study however this has nothing to do with
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relieving traffic from 1-75 Mr Schell agreed that this has nothing to do with relieving traffic from 1-75 and clarified that the only information that was used from the 1-75 Relief Task Force was information that was put into the LSM Commissioner Zalak clarified that they are 2 different purposes one is to relieve 1-75 and this one is simply to connect Tampa Bay and Jacksonville Mr Schell advised that this will have some benefit to 1-75 but that is not the main objective noting hurricane evacuation is a need but is not the primary need He stated there is a wide range of things they are looking to address and is different from 1-75 In response to Commissioner Zalak Mr Schell stated the primary need here is to ultimately improve connectivity to northeast Florida Commissioner Zalak commented on the need for all routes to concedemerge onto Highway 27 and asked what is special about that point Mr Schell stated there is nothing special they broke the segments up into a northern and southern segment so everything at the southern segment is at Highway 27 the reason that point was initially selected is based on the traffic He noted they have to have an apples-to-apples comparison when comparing alternatives same beginning and end point For FDOT to compare the southern alternative for the southern segments (apples-to-apples) they have to the same termini Mr Schell advised that they can certainly move noting this is the starting point for this evaluation Commissioner Zalak questioned whether a toll road like this could be used in conjunction with current roadways that already have ROW at some level Ms Bolan advised that as part of the 1-75 Relief Study there was a North 1-75 Master Plan which looked at 1-75 Highways 41 301 and 27 which can be found on their website under the documents section She noted the 1-75 Relief process used existing roadways which were looked at looking out into the future Based on projected traffic and congestion that will occur in the future years the study said that those existing corridors cannot handle all of the traffic and even improving some of those existing corridors will create tremendous impacts Improving existing corridors is an option but the county will still have impacts if everything will not fit within the existing ROW Commissioner Zalak commented on the study and asked if Ms Bolan had any recollection from the study as to how far off those are for example if you were going to improve existing corridors to a certain point how much more traffic will there actually be from a projected level Ms Bolan stated they would have to get invested into the details but there are some things to think about The turnpike is looking at some studies in the Orlando area and Wekiva Parkway where they have actually taken some existing corridor and kept the local access on the outsides and put the expressway in the middle so that both are kept which may be an option for some of these corridors however when you do that you may not be able to fit it in the existing ROW and additional property may have to be taken She noted there are impacts to areas outside those existing corridors Commissioner Zalak concurred noting no matter which way you choose roadways and other areas will be impacted Mr Schell advised that when they first met with County staff they were advised of roadway they were not to take a look at (eg SR 200 some medians and US Highway 41 going through Dunnellon) He stated they can go back and look at some of those existing roads and possibly using them but they want to have that coordination before moving forward to make sure they are not making an issue worse One of the first things they looked at was transmission lines easements areas that were already disturbed where they could run a possible alternative along
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Mr Schell referred to Slide 17 addressing Corridor Alternative Segments noting Alternative C1 and Alternative C2 are in Citrus County with an easement that runs east and west The objective there was to follow that easement The one farthest east (shown in orange) is adjacent or close to SR 200 uses an easement that crosses the Withlacoochee River To some extent they did look at existing roads but more so they were looking at easements or other areas that were possibly already disturbed Chairman Bryant thanked Messrs Cooke and Schnell as well as Ms Bolan for giving the presentation today She advised that she will ask several elected officials (Mayor Guinn Mayor Green Representative Stone and Representative McClain) if they wish to speak now or after public comment noting their time will not be included in the 1-hour time limit Ms Bolan stated they are listening and would like to continue to work with county staff (ie Engineering and Planning staff) and other municipalities and their staff as well as the equestrian communities agricultural communities and businesses that are important to this area Chairman Bryant reiterated earlier comment that this is very early in the planning stage and nothing has been cast in stone nor is there any funding for this project She stated FDOT could go back at the end of the day and say No Build
GENERAL PUBLIC COMMENT All members of the public wishing to speak during the General Public portion of the agenda will be limited to two (2) minutes to make their comments regarding the Coastal Connector At the discretion of the Chairman public comment will be heard for a total of one-hour Mayor Kent Guinn City of Ocala noted this is very early in the process which is a great time to stop it He stated it is his understanding that folks in Gainesville Alachua County asked that this not go through their county but is not sure that is correct Mayor Guinn urged the group to find a different route as this is the heart and soul of Marion County He noted his family came here in 1850 and urged the BCC to prepare a Resolution to say they are absolutely against the Coastal Connector Mayor Guinn further stated he is hopeful that the Ocala City Council will also adopt a Resolution to mirror the countys Mayor Walter Green City of Dunnellon advised that the city is currently working on its Resolution noting they want this entire issue stopped He stated he cannot recall an issue that has united our people in opposition to anything as this particular item noting he was raised in Dunnellon He commended Mr Cooke and his team as they have done a good job in relaying exactly what they know Mayor Green stated the route should continue to red level as was originally designed He noted the state currently owns a corridor (US Highway19) that is underutilized the map in the handout does not show Highway 19 only Ocala and Dunnellon This is a northsouth issue not an eastwest issue Mayor Green assured everyone that you do not go from one coast to another during a hurricane as hurricanes span the State of Florida He opined that they should go back to the original plan Representative Stan McClain advised from his seat in the audience that he has nothing further to add Representative Charlie Stone advised from his seat in the audience that he has nothing further to add Chairman Bryant noted that many who signed up to speak were here Tuesday May 15 2018 and are aware of what was said by the Board She asked that speakers keep their comments direct and to the point so that others can have an opportunity to also speak Margie Husted SW 61St Place Road advised from her seat in the audience that Mayor Green spoke for her
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Annette Stutzman SW 192nd Court Romeo agreed with Mayor Greens comments She commented on the possible routes and recommended FDOT stop the Coastal Connector Alternative Corridor evaluation today and have no toll road Connie Bryant SW 31st Street Dunnellon stated a lot of what she wanted to say has already been said but the Coastal Connector will destroy Marion County She advised that she is opposed Kristin Schlegel SW 121st Terrace advised that she purchased her property because it backed up to Florida Forever protected land She commented on proposed construction of a roadway made for environmentally sensitive areas and the impact on wildlife Ms Schlegal expressed her support for the widening of 1-75 and improving existing infrastructure She advised that the turnpike is in terrible condition Kimberly Carp NW 110th Avenue Horse Country Carriage Company and Tours Kimberden Farm the University of Florida and Trinity Catholic Equestrian Team advised that she is opposed to the Coastal Connector The fallout from the loss of farmland will have negative effects on many sectors of the local economy including ecotourism She demanded that the Costal Connector routes for Marion County be formally withdrawn immediately Mary Jane Hunt NW 90th Avenue presented a 1page handout addressing her questions to FDOT which she read into the record She expressed her appreciation to FDOT representatives for coming today Kathrin Dancer NW 80th Avenue commented on how she learned about the Coastal Connection as she was never notified about the road possibilities She expressed concern with the impact on her property Marie Schinman NW 82nd Court (Forest of Golden Hills) commented on the impact to her property and others in the area James Scott SW 19th Avenue Road General Manager Kinsman Stud Farm and President of the Florida Thoroughbred Farm Managers thanked the Board and FDOT for todays workshop He advised that they are vigorously opposed to the Coastal Connector Manuel Escalante NW 115th Avenue commented on the port-to-port highway which basically tells us that the priority for the State of Florida is businesses and is not taking into account the livelihood of Marion County He encouraged FDOT to take into account the status of Marion County and what the citizens are seeking David A Velez NW 120th Street Morriston noted the Coastal Connector proposal goes through the heart of Marion County He inquired as to what community is asking for this project Mr Velez advised that this is a democracy and the people here respectfully request our elected officials to act accordingly Richard Olsen NW 100th Avenue advised that on September 19 2017 the House of Representatives created a select committee on hurricane responses and preparedness who were charged to gather information solicit ideas and make recommendations on how to better prepare for future hurricanes Their final report was issued on January 16 2018 where the first set of recommendations was that of evacuations Among the recommended improvements was to extend the Suncoast Highway to the Georgia (GA) state line to provide another northsouth evacuation option Nowhere in the Floridas Turnpike Enterprise (FTE) Study was this route mentioned nor were others such as the route north of Gainesville for a possible connection to 1-10 He opined that this is a matter of public safety which commissioners have always made that paramount in any decisions made To risk the safety of thousands for the benefit of a few is reprehensible
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Joan Pletcher S Highway 475 advised that she represents landowners people she has sold land to who all came to Marion County because of the beautiful land peace and quiet She opined that FDOT BCC and Secretary of State need to recognize what our horse industry and agriculture bring to the State of Florida She urged the Board to vote against the Coastal Connector and ask FDOT to find another place Henry J Munoz Marion Oaks Boulevard commented on the toll road which puts it under the Toll Commission Authority not FDOT and questioned who will have oversight He further questioned why the proposal is to go from Tampa to Jacksonville rather than going north Mr Munoz asked what happened to rail and commented on eminent domain He stated now is the time to expand 1-75 Commissioner Gold left his seat at 319 pm but did not leave the auditorium Amy Agricola West Anthony Road advised that her property is not on the map but she is here to support the entire community of Marion County noting she has a few questions that were raised during the presentation She inquired as to who asked that Highway 41 and SR 200 not be looked at because it did not come from the public Ms Agricola stated she does not understand why we are looking at this when we could be looking at different things such as rail monorails or public transportation noting this is outdated technology She asked that the county be formally withdrawn from this study to save taxpayer dollars Lonny Powell Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Florida Thoroughbred Breeders and Owners Association (FTBOA) SW 60th Avenue noted he is also a resident of Dunnellon Commissioner Gold returned to his seat at 321 pm He stated the Boards discussion at their meeting on Tuesday (May 15 2018) to adopt a Resolution opposing the Coastal Connector is the appropriate action noting residents are also counting on our Senators Representatives Governors Office and Gubernatorial Candidates to also show the same courage as the BCC Mr Powell advised that on May 14 2018 a letter was sent to FDOT and the Board stating their position Janet Barrow SW 164th Avenue Road Dunnellon opined that the State of Florida needs to redefine what progress is because building more roads to accommodate more people will eventually not work She stated the studies are flawed and commented on Alternative C2 which crosses the gas pipeline over a sinkhole that was filled in with dirt and was described in FDOTs Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) as a shallow depression Ms Barrow noted she is watching what the state and federal government and local officials are doing She expressed her support for No Build Brian Donnelly West Anthony Road stated it is important for FDOT to understand why the Coastal Connector is not for Marion County it does not fit with the goals and objectives of the Master Plan He noted the county did as FDOT directed by improving existing roads before building new ones Mr Donnelly stated it is important to understand why Levy and Alachua countys said no to this proposal He presented a 5 page handout which includes a 2 page proposed letter from Alachua County a 2 page letter from Levy County Commissioners and a colored Map 1 Marion County 2035 Future Land Use Map (FLUM) Mr Donnelly stated as long as this proposal is on the table the community is an unstable place from a business perspective as no one likes to invest in uncertainty or purchase property when they do not know if their property will be part of an exit a turnpike pipeline or service plaza This is not just about a road it is about a taking of a ROW to allow anything to happen He urged the Board to stay the course and follow the adopted plans to protect the countys heritage and future Charles Lee Director of Advocacy Audobon Florida Audobon Way Maitland and member of the 1-75 Relief Task Force asked the Board to pass a Resolution pointedly
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requesting Governor Rick Scott to direct that the Executive Director of FTE discontinue this study This study should go no further and it is important to understand the costs of simply dependency of this study remaining in place the cost of tax dollars to conduct the study but more importantly are the costs to the lives of the people who are being disrupted because the study is in progress He stated it is important to note that throughout the presentation the 2 brief mentions given by the turnpike group here today did not tell you that the recommendation by the Task Force was not to do what they are currently doing Lura Bergh NW 90th Avenue Reddick stated this is a poorly planned area that FDOT decided to put the Coastal Connector through She commented on connecting on 1-10 would be a much better route Annette Plouffe SW 140th Avenue Dunnellon advised from her seat in the audience that her comments have all been stated Commissioner Gold out at 331 pm Douglas Shearer SE 85th Street commented on the future driverless vehicles and suggested making 1-75 a partial toll road for trucks and charge more for trucks using the road during the day He stated there are a lot of ways to relieve 1-75 noting a path from Tampa to Jacksonville can be made Michelle Shearer SE 85th Street stated the county should not waste any more time on this and urged the Board to tell Governor Scott not in Marion County Tami Bobo NW 90th Avenue presented a 1 page handout which she read into the record Todd Wojciehowski SE 32nd Avenue Ocala Breeders Sales Company (OBS) SW 60th Avenue stated this project has the potential to dramatically change the landscape of Marion County He commented on the economic impacts as it applies to OBS OBS is a thoroughbred auction company and feed mill that has been in business in Marion County for 40 years It is the center of commerce for the thoroughbred race horse industry as well as the marketing segment and tool for the State of Florida He advised that the numbers he is about to give are real not projections Since 2010 OBS has sold nearly 22000 horses for over $1000000000 with the vast majority of these horses either being raised or receiving their early training in Marion County the recently concluded OBS April sale generated a record $69000000 in sales in 4 days OBS is truly an international market place as buyers who come to sales represent 38 different countries and 49 of the 50 states in the United States (US) Of those buyers 80 percent () come from out of town which means they come to our community This is only 1 fraction of the horse industry there are multiple disciplines and breeds Bruce Borders Branford North Florida Farm Association Board of Directors stated he drove 100 miles one way to get here today just to say No Build He advised that Borders Farm on his mothers side goes back 8 generations noting all he knows is farming and landscaping Mr Borders stated American family farms are endangered species Commissioner Gold returned at 341 pm Ann Broken NW 114th Loop advised from her seat in the audience that her comments have already been stated Judy Etzler NW 219th Street Road Micanopy presented a 4 page handout which she read into the record expressing her objection to the Coastal Connector David Tillman SE 16th Avenue spoke in support of a route through Marion County He opined that there is a lot of economic opportunity for having this route come through the county but he does not feel that FDOT has performed its due diligence in a proper way
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to find a route that can meet all the needs Mr Tillman stated FDOT needs to be sent back to the drawing board to find a better route and impacts fewer people Elaine Vinson West Highway 326 stated the propose route will supposedly take 500 feet off the front of her property She commented on having the soil in Marion County for raising horses which is something that should be considered Tony Beresford NW 90th Avenue commented on the process that seems to go back to 1980 when there was talk of building a road not necessarily a toll road between Tampa and Jacksonville which is the directive that was given to the consultants He opined that the Governor needs to step in and stop this connector Linda Pizzonia West Highway 326 advised that the Coastal Connector greatly affects their business farm and way of life She opined that the connector will ruin Marion County Louise Coates NW 90th Avenue presented 2 Google Earth Maps noting she spent some time on the Internet looking west of Marion County by Highway 19 where she found a possible route She stated it shows the possibility of another route that will not impact a lot of people and the horse farms In response to Chairman Bryant Ms Coates stated the maps were sent to FDOT and the BCC David MacKay Esquire SW College Road advised that he is representing Charlotte Weber owner of Live Oak Plantation noted that he submitted a letter earlier this week to Ms Bolan and Mr Cooke and copied the Board which pointed out the significant adverse impact of the proposed corridors specifically Alternatives C2 and D1 to the farm The 2 corridors will bisect the farm from one end to the other Additional support statistics as to the large economic impact that particular farm has in Marion County were also provided however it is only 1 farm in the agricultural industry of the county Where the routes come together on Highway 27 from there north basically splits CR 225 and CR 225-A which is a strategic part of the equine industry in Marion County The Coastal Connector will have a huge impact with respect to agricultural enterprise no matter where someone is located in Marion County Agricultural operations are not as easily relocated as some may think He advised that he looked over the 1-75 Relief Task Force Summary Report which concluded with this study started Mr MacKay expressed concern that Marion County is not mentioned anywhere in the report He opined that it behooves the county to appoint a point person in the system to be on top of this going forward Matt Varney NW 90th Avenue Ocala Horse Properties advised that he has 2 questions for the Board to ask FDOT and 1 complaint Have the members of FDOT in attendance been to Ocala before today If so have they had the chance to drive these proposed routes and what did they think He noted he keeps hearing this is very early in the study and these are just lines on a map however the reality is that these lines have put into question any perspective sale within one-half mile of these routes He noted many people in the attendance today have either bought or sold farms from him or his company and asked the Board to put themselves in the eyes of a future buyer right now Would any Commissioner buy in the wake of these routes with what is known at this time Mr Varney stated the study should be stopped Karin Lunau NW 100th Street and NW 35th Lane Road was not present when called up to speak Chairman Bryant read her comments on the sign-up card into the record Northern segment options both would bring more traffic to the most congested segment of 1-75 301 and 441 cannot accommodate more traffic I suggest a third northsouth corridor from Tampa to Highway 10 (EastWest)
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Tom Grabe advised that he owns 3 properties in northwest Marion County NW 80th Avenue (business address) NW 78th Court (residence) and NW 42nd Street (70 acre) that he recently purchased for his future home but maybe not now He addressed earlier comments by Ms Bolan in regard to planning for the future and questioned what residents are supposed to do while FDOT is planning for the future Mr Grabe stated he has plans for a home a barn and farm that is now on hold He advised that he has stopped his architect since he cannot plan for the future now and they are telling him that he may have an answer in 27 years Mr Grabe noted that Ms Bolan stated the PDampE for the initial part of this took 4 years but he noticed this has taken 2 years He inquired as to how he will sell his property now that one of the routes traverses his entire piece of property and the other 2 properties fall within one-quarter mile of the line on NW 90th Mr Grabe commented on refining the routes since they are not set in stone and questioned how they will refine routes they do not have He questioned whether Marion County wants to be a destination or a pit stop between Tampa and Jacksonville Chairman Bryant advised that public comment is now closed
There was a recess at 401 pm The meeting resumed at 405 pm with all members present except Commissioner Zalak
BOARD DISCUSSION Chairman Bryant stated FDOT will now address questions posed noting Commissioners may also have a few more questions She noted that Ms Hunt asked why the choke point of Highway 27 and NW 90th Avenue were chosen Commissioner Zalak returned at 406 pm Mr Schnell stated the area of Highway 27 was initially chosen because of the traffic both existing and future He noted this is very preliminary and can be moved in another direction Chairman Bryant inquired if someone gave them direction to use Highway 27 or if it was based solely on traffic Mr Schnell advised that it was solely based on traffic Chairman Bryant referred to an article in the Ocala Star Banner newspaper dated October 14 2017 that stated input was received from local representatives and inquired as to who those representatives were Ms Bolan stated they met with some of the staff from Marion and Citrus counties as well as the cities of Crystal River Dunnellon and Inverness She clarified that they also received input from the public at their meetings Chairman Bryant noted Ms Hunt also questioned whether any routes were chosen to support any economic development projects occurring in Marion County at this time Ms Bolan stated they are not aware of doing that however they do look at the land use and maybe knowing some developments are coming which are considerations but there is not one in particular as they have no special interest in this noting it is a transportation project to try and plan for the future infrastructure needed in the area Chairman Bryant noted one other question was whether FDOT knows what the reasons were for being told to stay away from SR 200 and Highway 41 Mr Schnell stated if he recalls correctly he believes SR 200 was because of some environmental features along that area approaching the Withlacoochee River and concern with Highway 41 going through the City of Dunnellon Commissioner Zalak expressed his appreciation for FDOT for taking the time to be here today and advised that his request is to stop the routes as it really puts a choke hold on the equine industry at this point He understands that FDOT will always be studying
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routes The county is always trying to figure out how to move people around in the most efficient and effective manner which is what FDOT is trying to do Commissioner Zalak spoke to the uniqueness of Marion County and the equine industry and expressed his hopes that FDOT will take that into consideration He stated if the route has to go through Marion County he would like to sit down and find the best route for the county that does not impact the horse farms Commissioner Zalak stated there may be some existing corridors with better options and requested that these options be taken off the table Mr Cooke stated they would love to work with staff and the commission to perhaps come up with another corridor that is different than what is seen today Commissioner Moore commented on growing up in Crystal River and encouraged FDOT to look at Highway 19 He noted Levy and Alachua counties have said no and it is not right that Marion County should have a problem because those 2 counties said no The most logical route was what they had in the 1980 where the route ran up into Levy County and either at Trenton or Lebanon Station it cut over Commissioner Moore recommended FDOT revisit some of the logical routes rather than going through the heart of horse country He noted another route takes you over to the east and runs up through publicly owned lands however there are some environmental considerations Commissioner Gold advised that he pulled the maps for Highway 19 and asked if FDOT has looked at that route Ms Bolan stated Highway 19 is a longer route and is a little counterintuitive if you are trying to go from Tampa to Jacksonville She advised that the Hurricane Evacuation Committee with the Legislature had asked to look at noting there was going to be a study looking straight up Highway 19 or north up to 1-10 but that was recently vetoed so that study stopped FDOT can take these things into consideration Commissioner Gold urged FDOT to look at Highway 19 noting there is a slight shift to the west but it is not as significant as he originally thought Mr Cooke opined that is possible and noted it was something that had also been mentioned in a lot of comments Commissioner Stone expressed her appreciation to FDOTs flexibility and conversation she had with Mr Cooke prior to this workshop which gave her some ease knowing that they are here to listen and believes they are hearing the comments loud and clear She inquired as to how they refine what you do not have since these are non-committed lines drawn on the maps Mr Cooke commented on adjusting the corridors maybe east or west of where they are today in the general area of where they are He noted that a lot of speakers today are certainly not in favor of that at all but that was the refinement looking at an existing corridor and perhaps shifting it 500 feet 1000 feet or one-quarter mile one way or the other Mr Cooke advised that they hear what is being said they are listening and will look at alternatives He stated they will work with staff to hopefully come up with a solution that is workable for everyone Henry Pinzon Turnpike Environmental Management Engineer stated what is seen here is very important and expressed his appreciation for input from the Board and public today He stated he hears the concern with the corridors today and advised that they are going back to the drawing table to come with new ideas The plan is to meet with county staff as well as city staff to come up with a better solution Commissioner Stone stated the input from staff will come from the BCC She advised that her direction to staff is that these routes cannot be considered at all period The 500 foot and 300 foot variances will not work for this refinement means she wants them totally erased
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Mr Schell advised that they are in agreement with that noting it is not just refinement it is elimination and looking at something else altogether Commissioner Stone stated elimination is a great way to reference the corridors Commissioner Zalak stated from a toll perspective he can see monetarily why a route to JacksonvilleTampa may be important from a logistical standpoint and other travelers going updown northsouth 1-75 1-95 as well as other corridors northsouth of Highway 19 He stated FDOT must have some perspective on the money to fund a toll route from Tampa to Jacksonville He inquired about a toll route that is a 3 rd corridor that runs northsouth and questioned if that has been evaluated by the Toll Commission Mr Pinzon stated they need to evaluate routes that have a good potential to be economically feasible If you look at a 100 mile route going to the north with no real road crossings it is going to be very difficult to make that road financially feasible Commissioner Moore addressed earlier comment about monorail and whether a monorail system has been considered Ms Bolan advised that as part of the 1-75 Relief Task Force there was some recommendations to look at rail studies There is currently an ongoing study that FDOT out of Tallahassee has been performing looking at some of the existing rail corridors and rail options however rail is not part of the turnpike portion of FDOT She stated they cannot speak specifically for that but there is an ongoing study and they can get the BCC in touch with those folks working on that study Commissioner Moore commented on airport hubs and questioned why something like this would not go over toward Williston where there is a regional airport and away from other areas Ms Bolan stated a lot of it is based on future traffic projections General discussion ensued
CLOSING COMMENTS Chairman Bryant thanked FDOT once again for coming here today and listening to concerns from Marion County It is very evident that residents are concerned about what is happening in their community especially the northwest and western part of the county The countys agricultural community encompasses a lot of different things as was heard today and encompasses farming the thoroughbred industry not just northwest Marion County but the entire county The routes proposed go through northwest and west Marion County both of which are represented by herself and Commissioner Stone Chairman Bryant opined that the Board is asking for elimination of all proposed routes She advised that the county has started to craft a Resolution noting copies have been provided to fellow commissioners The Resolution will likely be presented at the next BCC meeting (June 5 2018) as action cannot be taken at a workshop however general consensus can be given Chairman Bryant asked that a copy of the proposed Resolution be forwarded to FDOT so they can see what is in it which talks a lot about the impact that Coastal Connector would bring to Marion County specifically to citizens talked about today Chairman Bryant asked that FDOT take that into consideration and that they quickly come out publicly and let it be known that you are no longer considering the routes as proposed As heard today these proposed routes do affect peoples lives and plans as well as real estate sales because if you know something like this is planned in your backyard you have to disclose that information to a prospective buyer which is a valid point This also makes a difference as far as people investing more into the community Chairman Bryant spoke to fellow commissioners about the Resolution that was handed out to each of them and asked that they look it over She stated if a commissioner would
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like to have anything added before the next meeting on June 5 2018 to contact the County Attorney and asked if there are any questions or suggestions at this time Chairman Bryant advised that if she has Board consensus the Resolution will be on the next BCC Agenda It was the general consensus of the Board to agree to placing the Resolution on the June 5 2018 BCC Agenda Commissioner Stone advised that she has already provided input to Mr Minter Chairman Bryant asked that FDOT go back to what the 1-75 Relief Task Force was talking about noting there was a route in the recommendation that made a lot of sense and did not impact folks like it does Marion County now Chairman Bryant reiterated her thanks to FDOT for coming out today and listening noting the Boards job is not always easy and today FDOTs job is not easy She voiced her hope that those in the audience will thank FDOT for coming and participating today Commissioner Gold advised that the Resolution includes a request to the Governor Commissioner Stone thanked FDOT for its flexibility and hearing the county She stated she looks forward to FDOTs formal elimination of these routes
It was noted for the record that the Deputy Clerk received a 4 page brochure regarding the Coastal Connector from County Engineer Tracy Straub OCE a 3 page document from Calvin amp Lynda Miller a large map from John Rudinanyn and a 15 page document from Judy Greenberg
There being no further business to come before the Board the meeting thereupon adjourned at 426 pm
athy B nt Chairman
Attest
David R Ellsp mann Clerk
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FDOT reached out and has met with some cities and counties such as Marion County Citrus County City of Belleview Dunnellon Crystal River Inverness and some of their staff where they were asked the same questions Ms Bolan stated they will continue to work with everyone noting they have been invited to some of the equestrian facilities as well as farmlands She stated they will continue to meet with Marion County staff Citrus County and other municipalities as they proceed to evaluate and find something that is acceptable to the area Slide 6 addresses the study process Alternative Corridor Evaluation (ACE) process which was developed by FDOT to provide for a method for identifying and evaluating various corridors early in the process allows for input from stakeholders agencies and the public and meet the state and federal planning requirements for the next phase Slide 7 addresses recent meetings held in Citrus County and Marion County Ms Bolan advised that all of the information from these meetings can be found on the website She noted as the study continues other things will be posted to the website The website is where people can go to obtain information about the study and provide feedback Slide 8 covers the status update Initial outreach meetings have been conducted FDOT started to identify and present preliminary corridor alternatives and held corridor alternative public meetings Ms Bolan advised that the corridors were posted on the website on April 26th which is the date in the advertisement Slide 9 addresses current and future steps Ms Bolan noted they are continuing to take input from agencies and the public coordinating with cities counties and stakeholders in the area to continue with the study evaluation modify evaluate adjust and propose preliminary alternatives that might be acceptable engage and present additional or new alternatives to show the public to include additional public meetings and may have another public meeting to show a recommendation The study recommendation completion will be updated as there is currently no date although they were hoping for early next year which could change based on how things move forward with the study Slides 10 through 14 address the websites which show the different sections and hyperlinks to the homepage online meetings address lookup address lookup features and staying connected Slide 15 shows contact information for Ms Bolan and Mr Jung Slide 16 concludes the presentation Chairman Bryant thanked Ms Bolan for the presentation Commissioner Stone asked for help with understanding the routes and stated she cannot imagine anyone from Marion County helped draw some of the lines Consultant Project Manager Steve Schnell HDR Engineering West Forsyth Street Jacksonville stated Ms Bolan touched on it with the LSM noting this is what they are bound to as part of the early planning stage which is an acceptable methodology from the agencies He reiterated that this is very early in the planning stage noting there is a lot of data collection they have to do and is part of where they are as Ms Bolan stressed Mr Schnell stated these are just starting points lines on the map to start that discussion He advised that they are here today to get feedback and input In response to Chairman Bryant Mr Schnell stated at this stage they sat down and started looking at possible routes but have not yet gone into land use He commented on the 1-75 Relief Task Force Study and information provided noting priorities were put on that data collected The information was used and supplemented with additional information received that removed the subjectivity which is part of the first step The maps were prepared based solely on the information collected and regulatory
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requirements Wetlands and cultural resources are items that went to the top because there are federal requirements for those types of issues Commissioner Moore briefly commented on the national history of Marion County and Fort King which was the logistics capital noting all roads led to Fort King Commissioner Gold out at 234 pm He further commented on Ponce de Leon noting before Marion County was known as the Horse Capital of the World it was known as the Cattle Capital of the World because of the rich soil Commissioner Moore inquired as to why everything is going over to the west through the Horse Capital of the World and asked why the routes were not to the east where it would not negatively impact the horse industry which is where the roads were originally in the 1800s Mr Schell stated this is an interim process and they are here to gather information that has not been collected The overall objective at this point for starting to look at that area around Highway 326 was to get improved connectivity to Jacksonville in the future 30 years from now The reason for focusing on the Highway 326 area to start with is because of traffic on US Highway 301 today and into the future A large portion of todays and future traffic uses the 326 interchange to access 1-75 and other roads in that area which has somewhat set the northern termini for the alternatives The southern termini was set by the Suncoast Connector Suncoast Parkway To make those points connect FDOT is using terminology that is acceptable by the agencies Commissioner Moore questioned going to the east noting one advantage of going to the east is that much of it is publicly owned property which would help in regard to eminent domain Mr Schell stated those are items FDOT can look at going to the east further north or west noting comments were received about possibly going to Highways 316 318 and even further north He noted that through this process the No Build is always an option looking at the long list of items they have to analyze evaluate and compare Commissioner Gold returned at 237 pm Mr Schell stated there is still much to be done noting this is a feasibility study and they are looking at whether or not this is even feasible County Attorney Matthew G Minter commented on the LSM methodology used and inquired as to the criteria that defines suitability Mr Schell advised that it is based on sensitivity when that information was gathered as part of the 1-75 relief effort the agencies weighed in on their priorities which have regulatory requirements attached to them (eg wetlands and cultural resources) In response to Mr Minter Mr Schell stated this is the follow-up step to the suitability map that identifies sensitive areas What is seen in the handout in terms of the comparison is a high level snapshot as this moves forward the agencies weigh in on that evaluation criteria however they have not yet gotten to that step Mr Schell stated there are a whole range of issues they have to look at such as how the alternatives compare in terms of the purpose of need environmental (ie social physical natural) costs and how it relates to the Comprehensive Plan or other plans that have been done and whether it is consistent In response to Commissioner Stone Mr Schell advised that this is the starting point where they are gathering data and input He clarified that no decision has been made on any of this Commissioner Zalak referred to the alternatives noting all segments come together at the 2 points and questioned how that selection was made noting materials from the 1-75 Relief Task Force to produce part of this study however this has nothing to do with
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relieving traffic from 1-75 Mr Schell agreed that this has nothing to do with relieving traffic from 1-75 and clarified that the only information that was used from the 1-75 Relief Task Force was information that was put into the LSM Commissioner Zalak clarified that they are 2 different purposes one is to relieve 1-75 and this one is simply to connect Tampa Bay and Jacksonville Mr Schell advised that this will have some benefit to 1-75 but that is not the main objective noting hurricane evacuation is a need but is not the primary need He stated there is a wide range of things they are looking to address and is different from 1-75 In response to Commissioner Zalak Mr Schell stated the primary need here is to ultimately improve connectivity to northeast Florida Commissioner Zalak commented on the need for all routes to concedemerge onto Highway 27 and asked what is special about that point Mr Schell stated there is nothing special they broke the segments up into a northern and southern segment so everything at the southern segment is at Highway 27 the reason that point was initially selected is based on the traffic He noted they have to have an apples-to-apples comparison when comparing alternatives same beginning and end point For FDOT to compare the southern alternative for the southern segments (apples-to-apples) they have to the same termini Mr Schell advised that they can certainly move noting this is the starting point for this evaluation Commissioner Zalak questioned whether a toll road like this could be used in conjunction with current roadways that already have ROW at some level Ms Bolan advised that as part of the 1-75 Relief Study there was a North 1-75 Master Plan which looked at 1-75 Highways 41 301 and 27 which can be found on their website under the documents section She noted the 1-75 Relief process used existing roadways which were looked at looking out into the future Based on projected traffic and congestion that will occur in the future years the study said that those existing corridors cannot handle all of the traffic and even improving some of those existing corridors will create tremendous impacts Improving existing corridors is an option but the county will still have impacts if everything will not fit within the existing ROW Commissioner Zalak commented on the study and asked if Ms Bolan had any recollection from the study as to how far off those are for example if you were going to improve existing corridors to a certain point how much more traffic will there actually be from a projected level Ms Bolan stated they would have to get invested into the details but there are some things to think about The turnpike is looking at some studies in the Orlando area and Wekiva Parkway where they have actually taken some existing corridor and kept the local access on the outsides and put the expressway in the middle so that both are kept which may be an option for some of these corridors however when you do that you may not be able to fit it in the existing ROW and additional property may have to be taken She noted there are impacts to areas outside those existing corridors Commissioner Zalak concurred noting no matter which way you choose roadways and other areas will be impacted Mr Schell advised that when they first met with County staff they were advised of roadway they were not to take a look at (eg SR 200 some medians and US Highway 41 going through Dunnellon) He stated they can go back and look at some of those existing roads and possibly using them but they want to have that coordination before moving forward to make sure they are not making an issue worse One of the first things they looked at was transmission lines easements areas that were already disturbed where they could run a possible alternative along
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Mr Schell referred to Slide 17 addressing Corridor Alternative Segments noting Alternative C1 and Alternative C2 are in Citrus County with an easement that runs east and west The objective there was to follow that easement The one farthest east (shown in orange) is adjacent or close to SR 200 uses an easement that crosses the Withlacoochee River To some extent they did look at existing roads but more so they were looking at easements or other areas that were possibly already disturbed Chairman Bryant thanked Messrs Cooke and Schnell as well as Ms Bolan for giving the presentation today She advised that she will ask several elected officials (Mayor Guinn Mayor Green Representative Stone and Representative McClain) if they wish to speak now or after public comment noting their time will not be included in the 1-hour time limit Ms Bolan stated they are listening and would like to continue to work with county staff (ie Engineering and Planning staff) and other municipalities and their staff as well as the equestrian communities agricultural communities and businesses that are important to this area Chairman Bryant reiterated earlier comment that this is very early in the planning stage and nothing has been cast in stone nor is there any funding for this project She stated FDOT could go back at the end of the day and say No Build
GENERAL PUBLIC COMMENT All members of the public wishing to speak during the General Public portion of the agenda will be limited to two (2) minutes to make their comments regarding the Coastal Connector At the discretion of the Chairman public comment will be heard for a total of one-hour Mayor Kent Guinn City of Ocala noted this is very early in the process which is a great time to stop it He stated it is his understanding that folks in Gainesville Alachua County asked that this not go through their county but is not sure that is correct Mayor Guinn urged the group to find a different route as this is the heart and soul of Marion County He noted his family came here in 1850 and urged the BCC to prepare a Resolution to say they are absolutely against the Coastal Connector Mayor Guinn further stated he is hopeful that the Ocala City Council will also adopt a Resolution to mirror the countys Mayor Walter Green City of Dunnellon advised that the city is currently working on its Resolution noting they want this entire issue stopped He stated he cannot recall an issue that has united our people in opposition to anything as this particular item noting he was raised in Dunnellon He commended Mr Cooke and his team as they have done a good job in relaying exactly what they know Mayor Green stated the route should continue to red level as was originally designed He noted the state currently owns a corridor (US Highway19) that is underutilized the map in the handout does not show Highway 19 only Ocala and Dunnellon This is a northsouth issue not an eastwest issue Mayor Green assured everyone that you do not go from one coast to another during a hurricane as hurricanes span the State of Florida He opined that they should go back to the original plan Representative Stan McClain advised from his seat in the audience that he has nothing further to add Representative Charlie Stone advised from his seat in the audience that he has nothing further to add Chairman Bryant noted that many who signed up to speak were here Tuesday May 15 2018 and are aware of what was said by the Board She asked that speakers keep their comments direct and to the point so that others can have an opportunity to also speak Margie Husted SW 61St Place Road advised from her seat in the audience that Mayor Green spoke for her
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Annette Stutzman SW 192nd Court Romeo agreed with Mayor Greens comments She commented on the possible routes and recommended FDOT stop the Coastal Connector Alternative Corridor evaluation today and have no toll road Connie Bryant SW 31st Street Dunnellon stated a lot of what she wanted to say has already been said but the Coastal Connector will destroy Marion County She advised that she is opposed Kristin Schlegel SW 121st Terrace advised that she purchased her property because it backed up to Florida Forever protected land She commented on proposed construction of a roadway made for environmentally sensitive areas and the impact on wildlife Ms Schlegal expressed her support for the widening of 1-75 and improving existing infrastructure She advised that the turnpike is in terrible condition Kimberly Carp NW 110th Avenue Horse Country Carriage Company and Tours Kimberden Farm the University of Florida and Trinity Catholic Equestrian Team advised that she is opposed to the Coastal Connector The fallout from the loss of farmland will have negative effects on many sectors of the local economy including ecotourism She demanded that the Costal Connector routes for Marion County be formally withdrawn immediately Mary Jane Hunt NW 90th Avenue presented a 1page handout addressing her questions to FDOT which she read into the record She expressed her appreciation to FDOT representatives for coming today Kathrin Dancer NW 80th Avenue commented on how she learned about the Coastal Connection as she was never notified about the road possibilities She expressed concern with the impact on her property Marie Schinman NW 82nd Court (Forest of Golden Hills) commented on the impact to her property and others in the area James Scott SW 19th Avenue Road General Manager Kinsman Stud Farm and President of the Florida Thoroughbred Farm Managers thanked the Board and FDOT for todays workshop He advised that they are vigorously opposed to the Coastal Connector Manuel Escalante NW 115th Avenue commented on the port-to-port highway which basically tells us that the priority for the State of Florida is businesses and is not taking into account the livelihood of Marion County He encouraged FDOT to take into account the status of Marion County and what the citizens are seeking David A Velez NW 120th Street Morriston noted the Coastal Connector proposal goes through the heart of Marion County He inquired as to what community is asking for this project Mr Velez advised that this is a democracy and the people here respectfully request our elected officials to act accordingly Richard Olsen NW 100th Avenue advised that on September 19 2017 the House of Representatives created a select committee on hurricane responses and preparedness who were charged to gather information solicit ideas and make recommendations on how to better prepare for future hurricanes Their final report was issued on January 16 2018 where the first set of recommendations was that of evacuations Among the recommended improvements was to extend the Suncoast Highway to the Georgia (GA) state line to provide another northsouth evacuation option Nowhere in the Floridas Turnpike Enterprise (FTE) Study was this route mentioned nor were others such as the route north of Gainesville for a possible connection to 1-10 He opined that this is a matter of public safety which commissioners have always made that paramount in any decisions made To risk the safety of thousands for the benefit of a few is reprehensible
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Joan Pletcher S Highway 475 advised that she represents landowners people she has sold land to who all came to Marion County because of the beautiful land peace and quiet She opined that FDOT BCC and Secretary of State need to recognize what our horse industry and agriculture bring to the State of Florida She urged the Board to vote against the Coastal Connector and ask FDOT to find another place Henry J Munoz Marion Oaks Boulevard commented on the toll road which puts it under the Toll Commission Authority not FDOT and questioned who will have oversight He further questioned why the proposal is to go from Tampa to Jacksonville rather than going north Mr Munoz asked what happened to rail and commented on eminent domain He stated now is the time to expand 1-75 Commissioner Gold left his seat at 319 pm but did not leave the auditorium Amy Agricola West Anthony Road advised that her property is not on the map but she is here to support the entire community of Marion County noting she has a few questions that were raised during the presentation She inquired as to who asked that Highway 41 and SR 200 not be looked at because it did not come from the public Ms Agricola stated she does not understand why we are looking at this when we could be looking at different things such as rail monorails or public transportation noting this is outdated technology She asked that the county be formally withdrawn from this study to save taxpayer dollars Lonny Powell Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Florida Thoroughbred Breeders and Owners Association (FTBOA) SW 60th Avenue noted he is also a resident of Dunnellon Commissioner Gold returned to his seat at 321 pm He stated the Boards discussion at their meeting on Tuesday (May 15 2018) to adopt a Resolution opposing the Coastal Connector is the appropriate action noting residents are also counting on our Senators Representatives Governors Office and Gubernatorial Candidates to also show the same courage as the BCC Mr Powell advised that on May 14 2018 a letter was sent to FDOT and the Board stating their position Janet Barrow SW 164th Avenue Road Dunnellon opined that the State of Florida needs to redefine what progress is because building more roads to accommodate more people will eventually not work She stated the studies are flawed and commented on Alternative C2 which crosses the gas pipeline over a sinkhole that was filled in with dirt and was described in FDOTs Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) as a shallow depression Ms Barrow noted she is watching what the state and federal government and local officials are doing She expressed her support for No Build Brian Donnelly West Anthony Road stated it is important for FDOT to understand why the Coastal Connector is not for Marion County it does not fit with the goals and objectives of the Master Plan He noted the county did as FDOT directed by improving existing roads before building new ones Mr Donnelly stated it is important to understand why Levy and Alachua countys said no to this proposal He presented a 5 page handout which includes a 2 page proposed letter from Alachua County a 2 page letter from Levy County Commissioners and a colored Map 1 Marion County 2035 Future Land Use Map (FLUM) Mr Donnelly stated as long as this proposal is on the table the community is an unstable place from a business perspective as no one likes to invest in uncertainty or purchase property when they do not know if their property will be part of an exit a turnpike pipeline or service plaza This is not just about a road it is about a taking of a ROW to allow anything to happen He urged the Board to stay the course and follow the adopted plans to protect the countys heritage and future Charles Lee Director of Advocacy Audobon Florida Audobon Way Maitland and member of the 1-75 Relief Task Force asked the Board to pass a Resolution pointedly
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requesting Governor Rick Scott to direct that the Executive Director of FTE discontinue this study This study should go no further and it is important to understand the costs of simply dependency of this study remaining in place the cost of tax dollars to conduct the study but more importantly are the costs to the lives of the people who are being disrupted because the study is in progress He stated it is important to note that throughout the presentation the 2 brief mentions given by the turnpike group here today did not tell you that the recommendation by the Task Force was not to do what they are currently doing Lura Bergh NW 90th Avenue Reddick stated this is a poorly planned area that FDOT decided to put the Coastal Connector through She commented on connecting on 1-10 would be a much better route Annette Plouffe SW 140th Avenue Dunnellon advised from her seat in the audience that her comments have all been stated Commissioner Gold out at 331 pm Douglas Shearer SE 85th Street commented on the future driverless vehicles and suggested making 1-75 a partial toll road for trucks and charge more for trucks using the road during the day He stated there are a lot of ways to relieve 1-75 noting a path from Tampa to Jacksonville can be made Michelle Shearer SE 85th Street stated the county should not waste any more time on this and urged the Board to tell Governor Scott not in Marion County Tami Bobo NW 90th Avenue presented a 1 page handout which she read into the record Todd Wojciehowski SE 32nd Avenue Ocala Breeders Sales Company (OBS) SW 60th Avenue stated this project has the potential to dramatically change the landscape of Marion County He commented on the economic impacts as it applies to OBS OBS is a thoroughbred auction company and feed mill that has been in business in Marion County for 40 years It is the center of commerce for the thoroughbred race horse industry as well as the marketing segment and tool for the State of Florida He advised that the numbers he is about to give are real not projections Since 2010 OBS has sold nearly 22000 horses for over $1000000000 with the vast majority of these horses either being raised or receiving their early training in Marion County the recently concluded OBS April sale generated a record $69000000 in sales in 4 days OBS is truly an international market place as buyers who come to sales represent 38 different countries and 49 of the 50 states in the United States (US) Of those buyers 80 percent () come from out of town which means they come to our community This is only 1 fraction of the horse industry there are multiple disciplines and breeds Bruce Borders Branford North Florida Farm Association Board of Directors stated he drove 100 miles one way to get here today just to say No Build He advised that Borders Farm on his mothers side goes back 8 generations noting all he knows is farming and landscaping Mr Borders stated American family farms are endangered species Commissioner Gold returned at 341 pm Ann Broken NW 114th Loop advised from her seat in the audience that her comments have already been stated Judy Etzler NW 219th Street Road Micanopy presented a 4 page handout which she read into the record expressing her objection to the Coastal Connector David Tillman SE 16th Avenue spoke in support of a route through Marion County He opined that there is a lot of economic opportunity for having this route come through the county but he does not feel that FDOT has performed its due diligence in a proper way
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to find a route that can meet all the needs Mr Tillman stated FDOT needs to be sent back to the drawing board to find a better route and impacts fewer people Elaine Vinson West Highway 326 stated the propose route will supposedly take 500 feet off the front of her property She commented on having the soil in Marion County for raising horses which is something that should be considered Tony Beresford NW 90th Avenue commented on the process that seems to go back to 1980 when there was talk of building a road not necessarily a toll road between Tampa and Jacksonville which is the directive that was given to the consultants He opined that the Governor needs to step in and stop this connector Linda Pizzonia West Highway 326 advised that the Coastal Connector greatly affects their business farm and way of life She opined that the connector will ruin Marion County Louise Coates NW 90th Avenue presented 2 Google Earth Maps noting she spent some time on the Internet looking west of Marion County by Highway 19 where she found a possible route She stated it shows the possibility of another route that will not impact a lot of people and the horse farms In response to Chairman Bryant Ms Coates stated the maps were sent to FDOT and the BCC David MacKay Esquire SW College Road advised that he is representing Charlotte Weber owner of Live Oak Plantation noted that he submitted a letter earlier this week to Ms Bolan and Mr Cooke and copied the Board which pointed out the significant adverse impact of the proposed corridors specifically Alternatives C2 and D1 to the farm The 2 corridors will bisect the farm from one end to the other Additional support statistics as to the large economic impact that particular farm has in Marion County were also provided however it is only 1 farm in the agricultural industry of the county Where the routes come together on Highway 27 from there north basically splits CR 225 and CR 225-A which is a strategic part of the equine industry in Marion County The Coastal Connector will have a huge impact with respect to agricultural enterprise no matter where someone is located in Marion County Agricultural operations are not as easily relocated as some may think He advised that he looked over the 1-75 Relief Task Force Summary Report which concluded with this study started Mr MacKay expressed concern that Marion County is not mentioned anywhere in the report He opined that it behooves the county to appoint a point person in the system to be on top of this going forward Matt Varney NW 90th Avenue Ocala Horse Properties advised that he has 2 questions for the Board to ask FDOT and 1 complaint Have the members of FDOT in attendance been to Ocala before today If so have they had the chance to drive these proposed routes and what did they think He noted he keeps hearing this is very early in the study and these are just lines on a map however the reality is that these lines have put into question any perspective sale within one-half mile of these routes He noted many people in the attendance today have either bought or sold farms from him or his company and asked the Board to put themselves in the eyes of a future buyer right now Would any Commissioner buy in the wake of these routes with what is known at this time Mr Varney stated the study should be stopped Karin Lunau NW 100th Street and NW 35th Lane Road was not present when called up to speak Chairman Bryant read her comments on the sign-up card into the record Northern segment options both would bring more traffic to the most congested segment of 1-75 301 and 441 cannot accommodate more traffic I suggest a third northsouth corridor from Tampa to Highway 10 (EastWest)
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Tom Grabe advised that he owns 3 properties in northwest Marion County NW 80th Avenue (business address) NW 78th Court (residence) and NW 42nd Street (70 acre) that he recently purchased for his future home but maybe not now He addressed earlier comments by Ms Bolan in regard to planning for the future and questioned what residents are supposed to do while FDOT is planning for the future Mr Grabe stated he has plans for a home a barn and farm that is now on hold He advised that he has stopped his architect since he cannot plan for the future now and they are telling him that he may have an answer in 27 years Mr Grabe noted that Ms Bolan stated the PDampE for the initial part of this took 4 years but he noticed this has taken 2 years He inquired as to how he will sell his property now that one of the routes traverses his entire piece of property and the other 2 properties fall within one-quarter mile of the line on NW 90th Mr Grabe commented on refining the routes since they are not set in stone and questioned how they will refine routes they do not have He questioned whether Marion County wants to be a destination or a pit stop between Tampa and Jacksonville Chairman Bryant advised that public comment is now closed
There was a recess at 401 pm The meeting resumed at 405 pm with all members present except Commissioner Zalak
BOARD DISCUSSION Chairman Bryant stated FDOT will now address questions posed noting Commissioners may also have a few more questions She noted that Ms Hunt asked why the choke point of Highway 27 and NW 90th Avenue were chosen Commissioner Zalak returned at 406 pm Mr Schnell stated the area of Highway 27 was initially chosen because of the traffic both existing and future He noted this is very preliminary and can be moved in another direction Chairman Bryant inquired if someone gave them direction to use Highway 27 or if it was based solely on traffic Mr Schnell advised that it was solely based on traffic Chairman Bryant referred to an article in the Ocala Star Banner newspaper dated October 14 2017 that stated input was received from local representatives and inquired as to who those representatives were Ms Bolan stated they met with some of the staff from Marion and Citrus counties as well as the cities of Crystal River Dunnellon and Inverness She clarified that they also received input from the public at their meetings Chairman Bryant noted Ms Hunt also questioned whether any routes were chosen to support any economic development projects occurring in Marion County at this time Ms Bolan stated they are not aware of doing that however they do look at the land use and maybe knowing some developments are coming which are considerations but there is not one in particular as they have no special interest in this noting it is a transportation project to try and plan for the future infrastructure needed in the area Chairman Bryant noted one other question was whether FDOT knows what the reasons were for being told to stay away from SR 200 and Highway 41 Mr Schnell stated if he recalls correctly he believes SR 200 was because of some environmental features along that area approaching the Withlacoochee River and concern with Highway 41 going through the City of Dunnellon Commissioner Zalak expressed his appreciation for FDOT for taking the time to be here today and advised that his request is to stop the routes as it really puts a choke hold on the equine industry at this point He understands that FDOT will always be studying
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routes The county is always trying to figure out how to move people around in the most efficient and effective manner which is what FDOT is trying to do Commissioner Zalak spoke to the uniqueness of Marion County and the equine industry and expressed his hopes that FDOT will take that into consideration He stated if the route has to go through Marion County he would like to sit down and find the best route for the county that does not impact the horse farms Commissioner Zalak stated there may be some existing corridors with better options and requested that these options be taken off the table Mr Cooke stated they would love to work with staff and the commission to perhaps come up with another corridor that is different than what is seen today Commissioner Moore commented on growing up in Crystal River and encouraged FDOT to look at Highway 19 He noted Levy and Alachua counties have said no and it is not right that Marion County should have a problem because those 2 counties said no The most logical route was what they had in the 1980 where the route ran up into Levy County and either at Trenton or Lebanon Station it cut over Commissioner Moore recommended FDOT revisit some of the logical routes rather than going through the heart of horse country He noted another route takes you over to the east and runs up through publicly owned lands however there are some environmental considerations Commissioner Gold advised that he pulled the maps for Highway 19 and asked if FDOT has looked at that route Ms Bolan stated Highway 19 is a longer route and is a little counterintuitive if you are trying to go from Tampa to Jacksonville She advised that the Hurricane Evacuation Committee with the Legislature had asked to look at noting there was going to be a study looking straight up Highway 19 or north up to 1-10 but that was recently vetoed so that study stopped FDOT can take these things into consideration Commissioner Gold urged FDOT to look at Highway 19 noting there is a slight shift to the west but it is not as significant as he originally thought Mr Cooke opined that is possible and noted it was something that had also been mentioned in a lot of comments Commissioner Stone expressed her appreciation to FDOTs flexibility and conversation she had with Mr Cooke prior to this workshop which gave her some ease knowing that they are here to listen and believes they are hearing the comments loud and clear She inquired as to how they refine what you do not have since these are non-committed lines drawn on the maps Mr Cooke commented on adjusting the corridors maybe east or west of where they are today in the general area of where they are He noted that a lot of speakers today are certainly not in favor of that at all but that was the refinement looking at an existing corridor and perhaps shifting it 500 feet 1000 feet or one-quarter mile one way or the other Mr Cooke advised that they hear what is being said they are listening and will look at alternatives He stated they will work with staff to hopefully come up with a solution that is workable for everyone Henry Pinzon Turnpike Environmental Management Engineer stated what is seen here is very important and expressed his appreciation for input from the Board and public today He stated he hears the concern with the corridors today and advised that they are going back to the drawing table to come with new ideas The plan is to meet with county staff as well as city staff to come up with a better solution Commissioner Stone stated the input from staff will come from the BCC She advised that her direction to staff is that these routes cannot be considered at all period The 500 foot and 300 foot variances will not work for this refinement means she wants them totally erased
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Mr Schell advised that they are in agreement with that noting it is not just refinement it is elimination and looking at something else altogether Commissioner Stone stated elimination is a great way to reference the corridors Commissioner Zalak stated from a toll perspective he can see monetarily why a route to JacksonvilleTampa may be important from a logistical standpoint and other travelers going updown northsouth 1-75 1-95 as well as other corridors northsouth of Highway 19 He stated FDOT must have some perspective on the money to fund a toll route from Tampa to Jacksonville He inquired about a toll route that is a 3 rd corridor that runs northsouth and questioned if that has been evaluated by the Toll Commission Mr Pinzon stated they need to evaluate routes that have a good potential to be economically feasible If you look at a 100 mile route going to the north with no real road crossings it is going to be very difficult to make that road financially feasible Commissioner Moore addressed earlier comment about monorail and whether a monorail system has been considered Ms Bolan advised that as part of the 1-75 Relief Task Force there was some recommendations to look at rail studies There is currently an ongoing study that FDOT out of Tallahassee has been performing looking at some of the existing rail corridors and rail options however rail is not part of the turnpike portion of FDOT She stated they cannot speak specifically for that but there is an ongoing study and they can get the BCC in touch with those folks working on that study Commissioner Moore commented on airport hubs and questioned why something like this would not go over toward Williston where there is a regional airport and away from other areas Ms Bolan stated a lot of it is based on future traffic projections General discussion ensued
CLOSING COMMENTS Chairman Bryant thanked FDOT once again for coming here today and listening to concerns from Marion County It is very evident that residents are concerned about what is happening in their community especially the northwest and western part of the county The countys agricultural community encompasses a lot of different things as was heard today and encompasses farming the thoroughbred industry not just northwest Marion County but the entire county The routes proposed go through northwest and west Marion County both of which are represented by herself and Commissioner Stone Chairman Bryant opined that the Board is asking for elimination of all proposed routes She advised that the county has started to craft a Resolution noting copies have been provided to fellow commissioners The Resolution will likely be presented at the next BCC meeting (June 5 2018) as action cannot be taken at a workshop however general consensus can be given Chairman Bryant asked that a copy of the proposed Resolution be forwarded to FDOT so they can see what is in it which talks a lot about the impact that Coastal Connector would bring to Marion County specifically to citizens talked about today Chairman Bryant asked that FDOT take that into consideration and that they quickly come out publicly and let it be known that you are no longer considering the routes as proposed As heard today these proposed routes do affect peoples lives and plans as well as real estate sales because if you know something like this is planned in your backyard you have to disclose that information to a prospective buyer which is a valid point This also makes a difference as far as people investing more into the community Chairman Bryant spoke to fellow commissioners about the Resolution that was handed out to each of them and asked that they look it over She stated if a commissioner would
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like to have anything added before the next meeting on June 5 2018 to contact the County Attorney and asked if there are any questions or suggestions at this time Chairman Bryant advised that if she has Board consensus the Resolution will be on the next BCC Agenda It was the general consensus of the Board to agree to placing the Resolution on the June 5 2018 BCC Agenda Commissioner Stone advised that she has already provided input to Mr Minter Chairman Bryant asked that FDOT go back to what the 1-75 Relief Task Force was talking about noting there was a route in the recommendation that made a lot of sense and did not impact folks like it does Marion County now Chairman Bryant reiterated her thanks to FDOT for coming out today and listening noting the Boards job is not always easy and today FDOTs job is not easy She voiced her hope that those in the audience will thank FDOT for coming and participating today Commissioner Gold advised that the Resolution includes a request to the Governor Commissioner Stone thanked FDOT for its flexibility and hearing the county She stated she looks forward to FDOTs formal elimination of these routes
It was noted for the record that the Deputy Clerk received a 4 page brochure regarding the Coastal Connector from County Engineer Tracy Straub OCE a 3 page document from Calvin amp Lynda Miller a large map from John Rudinanyn and a 15 page document from Judy Greenberg
There being no further business to come before the Board the meeting thereupon adjourned at 426 pm
athy B nt Chairman
Attest
David R Ellsp mann Clerk
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requirements Wetlands and cultural resources are items that went to the top because there are federal requirements for those types of issues Commissioner Moore briefly commented on the national history of Marion County and Fort King which was the logistics capital noting all roads led to Fort King Commissioner Gold out at 234 pm He further commented on Ponce de Leon noting before Marion County was known as the Horse Capital of the World it was known as the Cattle Capital of the World because of the rich soil Commissioner Moore inquired as to why everything is going over to the west through the Horse Capital of the World and asked why the routes were not to the east where it would not negatively impact the horse industry which is where the roads were originally in the 1800s Mr Schell stated this is an interim process and they are here to gather information that has not been collected The overall objective at this point for starting to look at that area around Highway 326 was to get improved connectivity to Jacksonville in the future 30 years from now The reason for focusing on the Highway 326 area to start with is because of traffic on US Highway 301 today and into the future A large portion of todays and future traffic uses the 326 interchange to access 1-75 and other roads in that area which has somewhat set the northern termini for the alternatives The southern termini was set by the Suncoast Connector Suncoast Parkway To make those points connect FDOT is using terminology that is acceptable by the agencies Commissioner Moore questioned going to the east noting one advantage of going to the east is that much of it is publicly owned property which would help in regard to eminent domain Mr Schell stated those are items FDOT can look at going to the east further north or west noting comments were received about possibly going to Highways 316 318 and even further north He noted that through this process the No Build is always an option looking at the long list of items they have to analyze evaluate and compare Commissioner Gold returned at 237 pm Mr Schell stated there is still much to be done noting this is a feasibility study and they are looking at whether or not this is even feasible County Attorney Matthew G Minter commented on the LSM methodology used and inquired as to the criteria that defines suitability Mr Schell advised that it is based on sensitivity when that information was gathered as part of the 1-75 relief effort the agencies weighed in on their priorities which have regulatory requirements attached to them (eg wetlands and cultural resources) In response to Mr Minter Mr Schell stated this is the follow-up step to the suitability map that identifies sensitive areas What is seen in the handout in terms of the comparison is a high level snapshot as this moves forward the agencies weigh in on that evaluation criteria however they have not yet gotten to that step Mr Schell stated there are a whole range of issues they have to look at such as how the alternatives compare in terms of the purpose of need environmental (ie social physical natural) costs and how it relates to the Comprehensive Plan or other plans that have been done and whether it is consistent In response to Commissioner Stone Mr Schell advised that this is the starting point where they are gathering data and input He clarified that no decision has been made on any of this Commissioner Zalak referred to the alternatives noting all segments come together at the 2 points and questioned how that selection was made noting materials from the 1-75 Relief Task Force to produce part of this study however this has nothing to do with
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relieving traffic from 1-75 Mr Schell agreed that this has nothing to do with relieving traffic from 1-75 and clarified that the only information that was used from the 1-75 Relief Task Force was information that was put into the LSM Commissioner Zalak clarified that they are 2 different purposes one is to relieve 1-75 and this one is simply to connect Tampa Bay and Jacksonville Mr Schell advised that this will have some benefit to 1-75 but that is not the main objective noting hurricane evacuation is a need but is not the primary need He stated there is a wide range of things they are looking to address and is different from 1-75 In response to Commissioner Zalak Mr Schell stated the primary need here is to ultimately improve connectivity to northeast Florida Commissioner Zalak commented on the need for all routes to concedemerge onto Highway 27 and asked what is special about that point Mr Schell stated there is nothing special they broke the segments up into a northern and southern segment so everything at the southern segment is at Highway 27 the reason that point was initially selected is based on the traffic He noted they have to have an apples-to-apples comparison when comparing alternatives same beginning and end point For FDOT to compare the southern alternative for the southern segments (apples-to-apples) they have to the same termini Mr Schell advised that they can certainly move noting this is the starting point for this evaluation Commissioner Zalak questioned whether a toll road like this could be used in conjunction with current roadways that already have ROW at some level Ms Bolan advised that as part of the 1-75 Relief Study there was a North 1-75 Master Plan which looked at 1-75 Highways 41 301 and 27 which can be found on their website under the documents section She noted the 1-75 Relief process used existing roadways which were looked at looking out into the future Based on projected traffic and congestion that will occur in the future years the study said that those existing corridors cannot handle all of the traffic and even improving some of those existing corridors will create tremendous impacts Improving existing corridors is an option but the county will still have impacts if everything will not fit within the existing ROW Commissioner Zalak commented on the study and asked if Ms Bolan had any recollection from the study as to how far off those are for example if you were going to improve existing corridors to a certain point how much more traffic will there actually be from a projected level Ms Bolan stated they would have to get invested into the details but there are some things to think about The turnpike is looking at some studies in the Orlando area and Wekiva Parkway where they have actually taken some existing corridor and kept the local access on the outsides and put the expressway in the middle so that both are kept which may be an option for some of these corridors however when you do that you may not be able to fit it in the existing ROW and additional property may have to be taken She noted there are impacts to areas outside those existing corridors Commissioner Zalak concurred noting no matter which way you choose roadways and other areas will be impacted Mr Schell advised that when they first met with County staff they were advised of roadway they were not to take a look at (eg SR 200 some medians and US Highway 41 going through Dunnellon) He stated they can go back and look at some of those existing roads and possibly using them but they want to have that coordination before moving forward to make sure they are not making an issue worse One of the first things they looked at was transmission lines easements areas that were already disturbed where they could run a possible alternative along
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Mr Schell referred to Slide 17 addressing Corridor Alternative Segments noting Alternative C1 and Alternative C2 are in Citrus County with an easement that runs east and west The objective there was to follow that easement The one farthest east (shown in orange) is adjacent or close to SR 200 uses an easement that crosses the Withlacoochee River To some extent they did look at existing roads but more so they were looking at easements or other areas that were possibly already disturbed Chairman Bryant thanked Messrs Cooke and Schnell as well as Ms Bolan for giving the presentation today She advised that she will ask several elected officials (Mayor Guinn Mayor Green Representative Stone and Representative McClain) if they wish to speak now or after public comment noting their time will not be included in the 1-hour time limit Ms Bolan stated they are listening and would like to continue to work with county staff (ie Engineering and Planning staff) and other municipalities and their staff as well as the equestrian communities agricultural communities and businesses that are important to this area Chairman Bryant reiterated earlier comment that this is very early in the planning stage and nothing has been cast in stone nor is there any funding for this project She stated FDOT could go back at the end of the day and say No Build
GENERAL PUBLIC COMMENT All members of the public wishing to speak during the General Public portion of the agenda will be limited to two (2) minutes to make their comments regarding the Coastal Connector At the discretion of the Chairman public comment will be heard for a total of one-hour Mayor Kent Guinn City of Ocala noted this is very early in the process which is a great time to stop it He stated it is his understanding that folks in Gainesville Alachua County asked that this not go through their county but is not sure that is correct Mayor Guinn urged the group to find a different route as this is the heart and soul of Marion County He noted his family came here in 1850 and urged the BCC to prepare a Resolution to say they are absolutely against the Coastal Connector Mayor Guinn further stated he is hopeful that the Ocala City Council will also adopt a Resolution to mirror the countys Mayor Walter Green City of Dunnellon advised that the city is currently working on its Resolution noting they want this entire issue stopped He stated he cannot recall an issue that has united our people in opposition to anything as this particular item noting he was raised in Dunnellon He commended Mr Cooke and his team as they have done a good job in relaying exactly what they know Mayor Green stated the route should continue to red level as was originally designed He noted the state currently owns a corridor (US Highway19) that is underutilized the map in the handout does not show Highway 19 only Ocala and Dunnellon This is a northsouth issue not an eastwest issue Mayor Green assured everyone that you do not go from one coast to another during a hurricane as hurricanes span the State of Florida He opined that they should go back to the original plan Representative Stan McClain advised from his seat in the audience that he has nothing further to add Representative Charlie Stone advised from his seat in the audience that he has nothing further to add Chairman Bryant noted that many who signed up to speak were here Tuesday May 15 2018 and are aware of what was said by the Board She asked that speakers keep their comments direct and to the point so that others can have an opportunity to also speak Margie Husted SW 61St Place Road advised from her seat in the audience that Mayor Green spoke for her
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Annette Stutzman SW 192nd Court Romeo agreed with Mayor Greens comments She commented on the possible routes and recommended FDOT stop the Coastal Connector Alternative Corridor evaluation today and have no toll road Connie Bryant SW 31st Street Dunnellon stated a lot of what she wanted to say has already been said but the Coastal Connector will destroy Marion County She advised that she is opposed Kristin Schlegel SW 121st Terrace advised that she purchased her property because it backed up to Florida Forever protected land She commented on proposed construction of a roadway made for environmentally sensitive areas and the impact on wildlife Ms Schlegal expressed her support for the widening of 1-75 and improving existing infrastructure She advised that the turnpike is in terrible condition Kimberly Carp NW 110th Avenue Horse Country Carriage Company and Tours Kimberden Farm the University of Florida and Trinity Catholic Equestrian Team advised that she is opposed to the Coastal Connector The fallout from the loss of farmland will have negative effects on many sectors of the local economy including ecotourism She demanded that the Costal Connector routes for Marion County be formally withdrawn immediately Mary Jane Hunt NW 90th Avenue presented a 1page handout addressing her questions to FDOT which she read into the record She expressed her appreciation to FDOT representatives for coming today Kathrin Dancer NW 80th Avenue commented on how she learned about the Coastal Connection as she was never notified about the road possibilities She expressed concern with the impact on her property Marie Schinman NW 82nd Court (Forest of Golden Hills) commented on the impact to her property and others in the area James Scott SW 19th Avenue Road General Manager Kinsman Stud Farm and President of the Florida Thoroughbred Farm Managers thanked the Board and FDOT for todays workshop He advised that they are vigorously opposed to the Coastal Connector Manuel Escalante NW 115th Avenue commented on the port-to-port highway which basically tells us that the priority for the State of Florida is businesses and is not taking into account the livelihood of Marion County He encouraged FDOT to take into account the status of Marion County and what the citizens are seeking David A Velez NW 120th Street Morriston noted the Coastal Connector proposal goes through the heart of Marion County He inquired as to what community is asking for this project Mr Velez advised that this is a democracy and the people here respectfully request our elected officials to act accordingly Richard Olsen NW 100th Avenue advised that on September 19 2017 the House of Representatives created a select committee on hurricane responses and preparedness who were charged to gather information solicit ideas and make recommendations on how to better prepare for future hurricanes Their final report was issued on January 16 2018 where the first set of recommendations was that of evacuations Among the recommended improvements was to extend the Suncoast Highway to the Georgia (GA) state line to provide another northsouth evacuation option Nowhere in the Floridas Turnpike Enterprise (FTE) Study was this route mentioned nor were others such as the route north of Gainesville for a possible connection to 1-10 He opined that this is a matter of public safety which commissioners have always made that paramount in any decisions made To risk the safety of thousands for the benefit of a few is reprehensible
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Joan Pletcher S Highway 475 advised that she represents landowners people she has sold land to who all came to Marion County because of the beautiful land peace and quiet She opined that FDOT BCC and Secretary of State need to recognize what our horse industry and agriculture bring to the State of Florida She urged the Board to vote against the Coastal Connector and ask FDOT to find another place Henry J Munoz Marion Oaks Boulevard commented on the toll road which puts it under the Toll Commission Authority not FDOT and questioned who will have oversight He further questioned why the proposal is to go from Tampa to Jacksonville rather than going north Mr Munoz asked what happened to rail and commented on eminent domain He stated now is the time to expand 1-75 Commissioner Gold left his seat at 319 pm but did not leave the auditorium Amy Agricola West Anthony Road advised that her property is not on the map but she is here to support the entire community of Marion County noting she has a few questions that were raised during the presentation She inquired as to who asked that Highway 41 and SR 200 not be looked at because it did not come from the public Ms Agricola stated she does not understand why we are looking at this when we could be looking at different things such as rail monorails or public transportation noting this is outdated technology She asked that the county be formally withdrawn from this study to save taxpayer dollars Lonny Powell Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Florida Thoroughbred Breeders and Owners Association (FTBOA) SW 60th Avenue noted he is also a resident of Dunnellon Commissioner Gold returned to his seat at 321 pm He stated the Boards discussion at their meeting on Tuesday (May 15 2018) to adopt a Resolution opposing the Coastal Connector is the appropriate action noting residents are also counting on our Senators Representatives Governors Office and Gubernatorial Candidates to also show the same courage as the BCC Mr Powell advised that on May 14 2018 a letter was sent to FDOT and the Board stating their position Janet Barrow SW 164th Avenue Road Dunnellon opined that the State of Florida needs to redefine what progress is because building more roads to accommodate more people will eventually not work She stated the studies are flawed and commented on Alternative C2 which crosses the gas pipeline over a sinkhole that was filled in with dirt and was described in FDOTs Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) as a shallow depression Ms Barrow noted she is watching what the state and federal government and local officials are doing She expressed her support for No Build Brian Donnelly West Anthony Road stated it is important for FDOT to understand why the Coastal Connector is not for Marion County it does not fit with the goals and objectives of the Master Plan He noted the county did as FDOT directed by improving existing roads before building new ones Mr Donnelly stated it is important to understand why Levy and Alachua countys said no to this proposal He presented a 5 page handout which includes a 2 page proposed letter from Alachua County a 2 page letter from Levy County Commissioners and a colored Map 1 Marion County 2035 Future Land Use Map (FLUM) Mr Donnelly stated as long as this proposal is on the table the community is an unstable place from a business perspective as no one likes to invest in uncertainty or purchase property when they do not know if their property will be part of an exit a turnpike pipeline or service plaza This is not just about a road it is about a taking of a ROW to allow anything to happen He urged the Board to stay the course and follow the adopted plans to protect the countys heritage and future Charles Lee Director of Advocacy Audobon Florida Audobon Way Maitland and member of the 1-75 Relief Task Force asked the Board to pass a Resolution pointedly
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requesting Governor Rick Scott to direct that the Executive Director of FTE discontinue this study This study should go no further and it is important to understand the costs of simply dependency of this study remaining in place the cost of tax dollars to conduct the study but more importantly are the costs to the lives of the people who are being disrupted because the study is in progress He stated it is important to note that throughout the presentation the 2 brief mentions given by the turnpike group here today did not tell you that the recommendation by the Task Force was not to do what they are currently doing Lura Bergh NW 90th Avenue Reddick stated this is a poorly planned area that FDOT decided to put the Coastal Connector through She commented on connecting on 1-10 would be a much better route Annette Plouffe SW 140th Avenue Dunnellon advised from her seat in the audience that her comments have all been stated Commissioner Gold out at 331 pm Douglas Shearer SE 85th Street commented on the future driverless vehicles and suggested making 1-75 a partial toll road for trucks and charge more for trucks using the road during the day He stated there are a lot of ways to relieve 1-75 noting a path from Tampa to Jacksonville can be made Michelle Shearer SE 85th Street stated the county should not waste any more time on this and urged the Board to tell Governor Scott not in Marion County Tami Bobo NW 90th Avenue presented a 1 page handout which she read into the record Todd Wojciehowski SE 32nd Avenue Ocala Breeders Sales Company (OBS) SW 60th Avenue stated this project has the potential to dramatically change the landscape of Marion County He commented on the economic impacts as it applies to OBS OBS is a thoroughbred auction company and feed mill that has been in business in Marion County for 40 years It is the center of commerce for the thoroughbred race horse industry as well as the marketing segment and tool for the State of Florida He advised that the numbers he is about to give are real not projections Since 2010 OBS has sold nearly 22000 horses for over $1000000000 with the vast majority of these horses either being raised or receiving their early training in Marion County the recently concluded OBS April sale generated a record $69000000 in sales in 4 days OBS is truly an international market place as buyers who come to sales represent 38 different countries and 49 of the 50 states in the United States (US) Of those buyers 80 percent () come from out of town which means they come to our community This is only 1 fraction of the horse industry there are multiple disciplines and breeds Bruce Borders Branford North Florida Farm Association Board of Directors stated he drove 100 miles one way to get here today just to say No Build He advised that Borders Farm on his mothers side goes back 8 generations noting all he knows is farming and landscaping Mr Borders stated American family farms are endangered species Commissioner Gold returned at 341 pm Ann Broken NW 114th Loop advised from her seat in the audience that her comments have already been stated Judy Etzler NW 219th Street Road Micanopy presented a 4 page handout which she read into the record expressing her objection to the Coastal Connector David Tillman SE 16th Avenue spoke in support of a route through Marion County He opined that there is a lot of economic opportunity for having this route come through the county but he does not feel that FDOT has performed its due diligence in a proper way
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to find a route that can meet all the needs Mr Tillman stated FDOT needs to be sent back to the drawing board to find a better route and impacts fewer people Elaine Vinson West Highway 326 stated the propose route will supposedly take 500 feet off the front of her property She commented on having the soil in Marion County for raising horses which is something that should be considered Tony Beresford NW 90th Avenue commented on the process that seems to go back to 1980 when there was talk of building a road not necessarily a toll road between Tampa and Jacksonville which is the directive that was given to the consultants He opined that the Governor needs to step in and stop this connector Linda Pizzonia West Highway 326 advised that the Coastal Connector greatly affects their business farm and way of life She opined that the connector will ruin Marion County Louise Coates NW 90th Avenue presented 2 Google Earth Maps noting she spent some time on the Internet looking west of Marion County by Highway 19 where she found a possible route She stated it shows the possibility of another route that will not impact a lot of people and the horse farms In response to Chairman Bryant Ms Coates stated the maps were sent to FDOT and the BCC David MacKay Esquire SW College Road advised that he is representing Charlotte Weber owner of Live Oak Plantation noted that he submitted a letter earlier this week to Ms Bolan and Mr Cooke and copied the Board which pointed out the significant adverse impact of the proposed corridors specifically Alternatives C2 and D1 to the farm The 2 corridors will bisect the farm from one end to the other Additional support statistics as to the large economic impact that particular farm has in Marion County were also provided however it is only 1 farm in the agricultural industry of the county Where the routes come together on Highway 27 from there north basically splits CR 225 and CR 225-A which is a strategic part of the equine industry in Marion County The Coastal Connector will have a huge impact with respect to agricultural enterprise no matter where someone is located in Marion County Agricultural operations are not as easily relocated as some may think He advised that he looked over the 1-75 Relief Task Force Summary Report which concluded with this study started Mr MacKay expressed concern that Marion County is not mentioned anywhere in the report He opined that it behooves the county to appoint a point person in the system to be on top of this going forward Matt Varney NW 90th Avenue Ocala Horse Properties advised that he has 2 questions for the Board to ask FDOT and 1 complaint Have the members of FDOT in attendance been to Ocala before today If so have they had the chance to drive these proposed routes and what did they think He noted he keeps hearing this is very early in the study and these are just lines on a map however the reality is that these lines have put into question any perspective sale within one-half mile of these routes He noted many people in the attendance today have either bought or sold farms from him or his company and asked the Board to put themselves in the eyes of a future buyer right now Would any Commissioner buy in the wake of these routes with what is known at this time Mr Varney stated the study should be stopped Karin Lunau NW 100th Street and NW 35th Lane Road was not present when called up to speak Chairman Bryant read her comments on the sign-up card into the record Northern segment options both would bring more traffic to the most congested segment of 1-75 301 and 441 cannot accommodate more traffic I suggest a third northsouth corridor from Tampa to Highway 10 (EastWest)
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Tom Grabe advised that he owns 3 properties in northwest Marion County NW 80th Avenue (business address) NW 78th Court (residence) and NW 42nd Street (70 acre) that he recently purchased for his future home but maybe not now He addressed earlier comments by Ms Bolan in regard to planning for the future and questioned what residents are supposed to do while FDOT is planning for the future Mr Grabe stated he has plans for a home a barn and farm that is now on hold He advised that he has stopped his architect since he cannot plan for the future now and they are telling him that he may have an answer in 27 years Mr Grabe noted that Ms Bolan stated the PDampE for the initial part of this took 4 years but he noticed this has taken 2 years He inquired as to how he will sell his property now that one of the routes traverses his entire piece of property and the other 2 properties fall within one-quarter mile of the line on NW 90th Mr Grabe commented on refining the routes since they are not set in stone and questioned how they will refine routes they do not have He questioned whether Marion County wants to be a destination or a pit stop between Tampa and Jacksonville Chairman Bryant advised that public comment is now closed
There was a recess at 401 pm The meeting resumed at 405 pm with all members present except Commissioner Zalak
BOARD DISCUSSION Chairman Bryant stated FDOT will now address questions posed noting Commissioners may also have a few more questions She noted that Ms Hunt asked why the choke point of Highway 27 and NW 90th Avenue were chosen Commissioner Zalak returned at 406 pm Mr Schnell stated the area of Highway 27 was initially chosen because of the traffic both existing and future He noted this is very preliminary and can be moved in another direction Chairman Bryant inquired if someone gave them direction to use Highway 27 or if it was based solely on traffic Mr Schnell advised that it was solely based on traffic Chairman Bryant referred to an article in the Ocala Star Banner newspaper dated October 14 2017 that stated input was received from local representatives and inquired as to who those representatives were Ms Bolan stated they met with some of the staff from Marion and Citrus counties as well as the cities of Crystal River Dunnellon and Inverness She clarified that they also received input from the public at their meetings Chairman Bryant noted Ms Hunt also questioned whether any routes were chosen to support any economic development projects occurring in Marion County at this time Ms Bolan stated they are not aware of doing that however they do look at the land use and maybe knowing some developments are coming which are considerations but there is not one in particular as they have no special interest in this noting it is a transportation project to try and plan for the future infrastructure needed in the area Chairman Bryant noted one other question was whether FDOT knows what the reasons were for being told to stay away from SR 200 and Highway 41 Mr Schnell stated if he recalls correctly he believes SR 200 was because of some environmental features along that area approaching the Withlacoochee River and concern with Highway 41 going through the City of Dunnellon Commissioner Zalak expressed his appreciation for FDOT for taking the time to be here today and advised that his request is to stop the routes as it really puts a choke hold on the equine industry at this point He understands that FDOT will always be studying
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routes The county is always trying to figure out how to move people around in the most efficient and effective manner which is what FDOT is trying to do Commissioner Zalak spoke to the uniqueness of Marion County and the equine industry and expressed his hopes that FDOT will take that into consideration He stated if the route has to go through Marion County he would like to sit down and find the best route for the county that does not impact the horse farms Commissioner Zalak stated there may be some existing corridors with better options and requested that these options be taken off the table Mr Cooke stated they would love to work with staff and the commission to perhaps come up with another corridor that is different than what is seen today Commissioner Moore commented on growing up in Crystal River and encouraged FDOT to look at Highway 19 He noted Levy and Alachua counties have said no and it is not right that Marion County should have a problem because those 2 counties said no The most logical route was what they had in the 1980 where the route ran up into Levy County and either at Trenton or Lebanon Station it cut over Commissioner Moore recommended FDOT revisit some of the logical routes rather than going through the heart of horse country He noted another route takes you over to the east and runs up through publicly owned lands however there are some environmental considerations Commissioner Gold advised that he pulled the maps for Highway 19 and asked if FDOT has looked at that route Ms Bolan stated Highway 19 is a longer route and is a little counterintuitive if you are trying to go from Tampa to Jacksonville She advised that the Hurricane Evacuation Committee with the Legislature had asked to look at noting there was going to be a study looking straight up Highway 19 or north up to 1-10 but that was recently vetoed so that study stopped FDOT can take these things into consideration Commissioner Gold urged FDOT to look at Highway 19 noting there is a slight shift to the west but it is not as significant as he originally thought Mr Cooke opined that is possible and noted it was something that had also been mentioned in a lot of comments Commissioner Stone expressed her appreciation to FDOTs flexibility and conversation she had with Mr Cooke prior to this workshop which gave her some ease knowing that they are here to listen and believes they are hearing the comments loud and clear She inquired as to how they refine what you do not have since these are non-committed lines drawn on the maps Mr Cooke commented on adjusting the corridors maybe east or west of where they are today in the general area of where they are He noted that a lot of speakers today are certainly not in favor of that at all but that was the refinement looking at an existing corridor and perhaps shifting it 500 feet 1000 feet or one-quarter mile one way or the other Mr Cooke advised that they hear what is being said they are listening and will look at alternatives He stated they will work with staff to hopefully come up with a solution that is workable for everyone Henry Pinzon Turnpike Environmental Management Engineer stated what is seen here is very important and expressed his appreciation for input from the Board and public today He stated he hears the concern with the corridors today and advised that they are going back to the drawing table to come with new ideas The plan is to meet with county staff as well as city staff to come up with a better solution Commissioner Stone stated the input from staff will come from the BCC She advised that her direction to staff is that these routes cannot be considered at all period The 500 foot and 300 foot variances will not work for this refinement means she wants them totally erased
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Mr Schell advised that they are in agreement with that noting it is not just refinement it is elimination and looking at something else altogether Commissioner Stone stated elimination is a great way to reference the corridors Commissioner Zalak stated from a toll perspective he can see monetarily why a route to JacksonvilleTampa may be important from a logistical standpoint and other travelers going updown northsouth 1-75 1-95 as well as other corridors northsouth of Highway 19 He stated FDOT must have some perspective on the money to fund a toll route from Tampa to Jacksonville He inquired about a toll route that is a 3 rd corridor that runs northsouth and questioned if that has been evaluated by the Toll Commission Mr Pinzon stated they need to evaluate routes that have a good potential to be economically feasible If you look at a 100 mile route going to the north with no real road crossings it is going to be very difficult to make that road financially feasible Commissioner Moore addressed earlier comment about monorail and whether a monorail system has been considered Ms Bolan advised that as part of the 1-75 Relief Task Force there was some recommendations to look at rail studies There is currently an ongoing study that FDOT out of Tallahassee has been performing looking at some of the existing rail corridors and rail options however rail is not part of the turnpike portion of FDOT She stated they cannot speak specifically for that but there is an ongoing study and they can get the BCC in touch with those folks working on that study Commissioner Moore commented on airport hubs and questioned why something like this would not go over toward Williston where there is a regional airport and away from other areas Ms Bolan stated a lot of it is based on future traffic projections General discussion ensued
CLOSING COMMENTS Chairman Bryant thanked FDOT once again for coming here today and listening to concerns from Marion County It is very evident that residents are concerned about what is happening in their community especially the northwest and western part of the county The countys agricultural community encompasses a lot of different things as was heard today and encompasses farming the thoroughbred industry not just northwest Marion County but the entire county The routes proposed go through northwest and west Marion County both of which are represented by herself and Commissioner Stone Chairman Bryant opined that the Board is asking for elimination of all proposed routes She advised that the county has started to craft a Resolution noting copies have been provided to fellow commissioners The Resolution will likely be presented at the next BCC meeting (June 5 2018) as action cannot be taken at a workshop however general consensus can be given Chairman Bryant asked that a copy of the proposed Resolution be forwarded to FDOT so they can see what is in it which talks a lot about the impact that Coastal Connector would bring to Marion County specifically to citizens talked about today Chairman Bryant asked that FDOT take that into consideration and that they quickly come out publicly and let it be known that you are no longer considering the routes as proposed As heard today these proposed routes do affect peoples lives and plans as well as real estate sales because if you know something like this is planned in your backyard you have to disclose that information to a prospective buyer which is a valid point This also makes a difference as far as people investing more into the community Chairman Bryant spoke to fellow commissioners about the Resolution that was handed out to each of them and asked that they look it over She stated if a commissioner would
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like to have anything added before the next meeting on June 5 2018 to contact the County Attorney and asked if there are any questions or suggestions at this time Chairman Bryant advised that if she has Board consensus the Resolution will be on the next BCC Agenda It was the general consensus of the Board to agree to placing the Resolution on the June 5 2018 BCC Agenda Commissioner Stone advised that she has already provided input to Mr Minter Chairman Bryant asked that FDOT go back to what the 1-75 Relief Task Force was talking about noting there was a route in the recommendation that made a lot of sense and did not impact folks like it does Marion County now Chairman Bryant reiterated her thanks to FDOT for coming out today and listening noting the Boards job is not always easy and today FDOTs job is not easy She voiced her hope that those in the audience will thank FDOT for coming and participating today Commissioner Gold advised that the Resolution includes a request to the Governor Commissioner Stone thanked FDOT for its flexibility and hearing the county She stated she looks forward to FDOTs formal elimination of these routes
It was noted for the record that the Deputy Clerk received a 4 page brochure regarding the Coastal Connector from County Engineer Tracy Straub OCE a 3 page document from Calvin amp Lynda Miller a large map from John Rudinanyn and a 15 page document from Judy Greenberg
There being no further business to come before the Board the meeting thereupon adjourned at 426 pm
athy B nt Chairman
Attest
David R Ellsp mann Clerk
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relieving traffic from 1-75 Mr Schell agreed that this has nothing to do with relieving traffic from 1-75 and clarified that the only information that was used from the 1-75 Relief Task Force was information that was put into the LSM Commissioner Zalak clarified that they are 2 different purposes one is to relieve 1-75 and this one is simply to connect Tampa Bay and Jacksonville Mr Schell advised that this will have some benefit to 1-75 but that is not the main objective noting hurricane evacuation is a need but is not the primary need He stated there is a wide range of things they are looking to address and is different from 1-75 In response to Commissioner Zalak Mr Schell stated the primary need here is to ultimately improve connectivity to northeast Florida Commissioner Zalak commented on the need for all routes to concedemerge onto Highway 27 and asked what is special about that point Mr Schell stated there is nothing special they broke the segments up into a northern and southern segment so everything at the southern segment is at Highway 27 the reason that point was initially selected is based on the traffic He noted they have to have an apples-to-apples comparison when comparing alternatives same beginning and end point For FDOT to compare the southern alternative for the southern segments (apples-to-apples) they have to the same termini Mr Schell advised that they can certainly move noting this is the starting point for this evaluation Commissioner Zalak questioned whether a toll road like this could be used in conjunction with current roadways that already have ROW at some level Ms Bolan advised that as part of the 1-75 Relief Study there was a North 1-75 Master Plan which looked at 1-75 Highways 41 301 and 27 which can be found on their website under the documents section She noted the 1-75 Relief process used existing roadways which were looked at looking out into the future Based on projected traffic and congestion that will occur in the future years the study said that those existing corridors cannot handle all of the traffic and even improving some of those existing corridors will create tremendous impacts Improving existing corridors is an option but the county will still have impacts if everything will not fit within the existing ROW Commissioner Zalak commented on the study and asked if Ms Bolan had any recollection from the study as to how far off those are for example if you were going to improve existing corridors to a certain point how much more traffic will there actually be from a projected level Ms Bolan stated they would have to get invested into the details but there are some things to think about The turnpike is looking at some studies in the Orlando area and Wekiva Parkway where they have actually taken some existing corridor and kept the local access on the outsides and put the expressway in the middle so that both are kept which may be an option for some of these corridors however when you do that you may not be able to fit it in the existing ROW and additional property may have to be taken She noted there are impacts to areas outside those existing corridors Commissioner Zalak concurred noting no matter which way you choose roadways and other areas will be impacted Mr Schell advised that when they first met with County staff they were advised of roadway they were not to take a look at (eg SR 200 some medians and US Highway 41 going through Dunnellon) He stated they can go back and look at some of those existing roads and possibly using them but they want to have that coordination before moving forward to make sure they are not making an issue worse One of the first things they looked at was transmission lines easements areas that were already disturbed where they could run a possible alternative along
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Mr Schell referred to Slide 17 addressing Corridor Alternative Segments noting Alternative C1 and Alternative C2 are in Citrus County with an easement that runs east and west The objective there was to follow that easement The one farthest east (shown in orange) is adjacent or close to SR 200 uses an easement that crosses the Withlacoochee River To some extent they did look at existing roads but more so they were looking at easements or other areas that were possibly already disturbed Chairman Bryant thanked Messrs Cooke and Schnell as well as Ms Bolan for giving the presentation today She advised that she will ask several elected officials (Mayor Guinn Mayor Green Representative Stone and Representative McClain) if they wish to speak now or after public comment noting their time will not be included in the 1-hour time limit Ms Bolan stated they are listening and would like to continue to work with county staff (ie Engineering and Planning staff) and other municipalities and their staff as well as the equestrian communities agricultural communities and businesses that are important to this area Chairman Bryant reiterated earlier comment that this is very early in the planning stage and nothing has been cast in stone nor is there any funding for this project She stated FDOT could go back at the end of the day and say No Build
GENERAL PUBLIC COMMENT All members of the public wishing to speak during the General Public portion of the agenda will be limited to two (2) minutes to make their comments regarding the Coastal Connector At the discretion of the Chairman public comment will be heard for a total of one-hour Mayor Kent Guinn City of Ocala noted this is very early in the process which is a great time to stop it He stated it is his understanding that folks in Gainesville Alachua County asked that this not go through their county but is not sure that is correct Mayor Guinn urged the group to find a different route as this is the heart and soul of Marion County He noted his family came here in 1850 and urged the BCC to prepare a Resolution to say they are absolutely against the Coastal Connector Mayor Guinn further stated he is hopeful that the Ocala City Council will also adopt a Resolution to mirror the countys Mayor Walter Green City of Dunnellon advised that the city is currently working on its Resolution noting they want this entire issue stopped He stated he cannot recall an issue that has united our people in opposition to anything as this particular item noting he was raised in Dunnellon He commended Mr Cooke and his team as they have done a good job in relaying exactly what they know Mayor Green stated the route should continue to red level as was originally designed He noted the state currently owns a corridor (US Highway19) that is underutilized the map in the handout does not show Highway 19 only Ocala and Dunnellon This is a northsouth issue not an eastwest issue Mayor Green assured everyone that you do not go from one coast to another during a hurricane as hurricanes span the State of Florida He opined that they should go back to the original plan Representative Stan McClain advised from his seat in the audience that he has nothing further to add Representative Charlie Stone advised from his seat in the audience that he has nothing further to add Chairman Bryant noted that many who signed up to speak were here Tuesday May 15 2018 and are aware of what was said by the Board She asked that speakers keep their comments direct and to the point so that others can have an opportunity to also speak Margie Husted SW 61St Place Road advised from her seat in the audience that Mayor Green spoke for her
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Annette Stutzman SW 192nd Court Romeo agreed with Mayor Greens comments She commented on the possible routes and recommended FDOT stop the Coastal Connector Alternative Corridor evaluation today and have no toll road Connie Bryant SW 31st Street Dunnellon stated a lot of what she wanted to say has already been said but the Coastal Connector will destroy Marion County She advised that she is opposed Kristin Schlegel SW 121st Terrace advised that she purchased her property because it backed up to Florida Forever protected land She commented on proposed construction of a roadway made for environmentally sensitive areas and the impact on wildlife Ms Schlegal expressed her support for the widening of 1-75 and improving existing infrastructure She advised that the turnpike is in terrible condition Kimberly Carp NW 110th Avenue Horse Country Carriage Company and Tours Kimberden Farm the University of Florida and Trinity Catholic Equestrian Team advised that she is opposed to the Coastal Connector The fallout from the loss of farmland will have negative effects on many sectors of the local economy including ecotourism She demanded that the Costal Connector routes for Marion County be formally withdrawn immediately Mary Jane Hunt NW 90th Avenue presented a 1page handout addressing her questions to FDOT which she read into the record She expressed her appreciation to FDOT representatives for coming today Kathrin Dancer NW 80th Avenue commented on how she learned about the Coastal Connection as she was never notified about the road possibilities She expressed concern with the impact on her property Marie Schinman NW 82nd Court (Forest of Golden Hills) commented on the impact to her property and others in the area James Scott SW 19th Avenue Road General Manager Kinsman Stud Farm and President of the Florida Thoroughbred Farm Managers thanked the Board and FDOT for todays workshop He advised that they are vigorously opposed to the Coastal Connector Manuel Escalante NW 115th Avenue commented on the port-to-port highway which basically tells us that the priority for the State of Florida is businesses and is not taking into account the livelihood of Marion County He encouraged FDOT to take into account the status of Marion County and what the citizens are seeking David A Velez NW 120th Street Morriston noted the Coastal Connector proposal goes through the heart of Marion County He inquired as to what community is asking for this project Mr Velez advised that this is a democracy and the people here respectfully request our elected officials to act accordingly Richard Olsen NW 100th Avenue advised that on September 19 2017 the House of Representatives created a select committee on hurricane responses and preparedness who were charged to gather information solicit ideas and make recommendations on how to better prepare for future hurricanes Their final report was issued on January 16 2018 where the first set of recommendations was that of evacuations Among the recommended improvements was to extend the Suncoast Highway to the Georgia (GA) state line to provide another northsouth evacuation option Nowhere in the Floridas Turnpike Enterprise (FTE) Study was this route mentioned nor were others such as the route north of Gainesville for a possible connection to 1-10 He opined that this is a matter of public safety which commissioners have always made that paramount in any decisions made To risk the safety of thousands for the benefit of a few is reprehensible
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Joan Pletcher S Highway 475 advised that she represents landowners people she has sold land to who all came to Marion County because of the beautiful land peace and quiet She opined that FDOT BCC and Secretary of State need to recognize what our horse industry and agriculture bring to the State of Florida She urged the Board to vote against the Coastal Connector and ask FDOT to find another place Henry J Munoz Marion Oaks Boulevard commented on the toll road which puts it under the Toll Commission Authority not FDOT and questioned who will have oversight He further questioned why the proposal is to go from Tampa to Jacksonville rather than going north Mr Munoz asked what happened to rail and commented on eminent domain He stated now is the time to expand 1-75 Commissioner Gold left his seat at 319 pm but did not leave the auditorium Amy Agricola West Anthony Road advised that her property is not on the map but she is here to support the entire community of Marion County noting she has a few questions that were raised during the presentation She inquired as to who asked that Highway 41 and SR 200 not be looked at because it did not come from the public Ms Agricola stated she does not understand why we are looking at this when we could be looking at different things such as rail monorails or public transportation noting this is outdated technology She asked that the county be formally withdrawn from this study to save taxpayer dollars Lonny Powell Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Florida Thoroughbred Breeders and Owners Association (FTBOA) SW 60th Avenue noted he is also a resident of Dunnellon Commissioner Gold returned to his seat at 321 pm He stated the Boards discussion at their meeting on Tuesday (May 15 2018) to adopt a Resolution opposing the Coastal Connector is the appropriate action noting residents are also counting on our Senators Representatives Governors Office and Gubernatorial Candidates to also show the same courage as the BCC Mr Powell advised that on May 14 2018 a letter was sent to FDOT and the Board stating their position Janet Barrow SW 164th Avenue Road Dunnellon opined that the State of Florida needs to redefine what progress is because building more roads to accommodate more people will eventually not work She stated the studies are flawed and commented on Alternative C2 which crosses the gas pipeline over a sinkhole that was filled in with dirt and was described in FDOTs Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) as a shallow depression Ms Barrow noted she is watching what the state and federal government and local officials are doing She expressed her support for No Build Brian Donnelly West Anthony Road stated it is important for FDOT to understand why the Coastal Connector is not for Marion County it does not fit with the goals and objectives of the Master Plan He noted the county did as FDOT directed by improving existing roads before building new ones Mr Donnelly stated it is important to understand why Levy and Alachua countys said no to this proposal He presented a 5 page handout which includes a 2 page proposed letter from Alachua County a 2 page letter from Levy County Commissioners and a colored Map 1 Marion County 2035 Future Land Use Map (FLUM) Mr Donnelly stated as long as this proposal is on the table the community is an unstable place from a business perspective as no one likes to invest in uncertainty or purchase property when they do not know if their property will be part of an exit a turnpike pipeline or service plaza This is not just about a road it is about a taking of a ROW to allow anything to happen He urged the Board to stay the course and follow the adopted plans to protect the countys heritage and future Charles Lee Director of Advocacy Audobon Florida Audobon Way Maitland and member of the 1-75 Relief Task Force asked the Board to pass a Resolution pointedly
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requesting Governor Rick Scott to direct that the Executive Director of FTE discontinue this study This study should go no further and it is important to understand the costs of simply dependency of this study remaining in place the cost of tax dollars to conduct the study but more importantly are the costs to the lives of the people who are being disrupted because the study is in progress He stated it is important to note that throughout the presentation the 2 brief mentions given by the turnpike group here today did not tell you that the recommendation by the Task Force was not to do what they are currently doing Lura Bergh NW 90th Avenue Reddick stated this is a poorly planned area that FDOT decided to put the Coastal Connector through She commented on connecting on 1-10 would be a much better route Annette Plouffe SW 140th Avenue Dunnellon advised from her seat in the audience that her comments have all been stated Commissioner Gold out at 331 pm Douglas Shearer SE 85th Street commented on the future driverless vehicles and suggested making 1-75 a partial toll road for trucks and charge more for trucks using the road during the day He stated there are a lot of ways to relieve 1-75 noting a path from Tampa to Jacksonville can be made Michelle Shearer SE 85th Street stated the county should not waste any more time on this and urged the Board to tell Governor Scott not in Marion County Tami Bobo NW 90th Avenue presented a 1 page handout which she read into the record Todd Wojciehowski SE 32nd Avenue Ocala Breeders Sales Company (OBS) SW 60th Avenue stated this project has the potential to dramatically change the landscape of Marion County He commented on the economic impacts as it applies to OBS OBS is a thoroughbred auction company and feed mill that has been in business in Marion County for 40 years It is the center of commerce for the thoroughbred race horse industry as well as the marketing segment and tool for the State of Florida He advised that the numbers he is about to give are real not projections Since 2010 OBS has sold nearly 22000 horses for over $1000000000 with the vast majority of these horses either being raised or receiving their early training in Marion County the recently concluded OBS April sale generated a record $69000000 in sales in 4 days OBS is truly an international market place as buyers who come to sales represent 38 different countries and 49 of the 50 states in the United States (US) Of those buyers 80 percent () come from out of town which means they come to our community This is only 1 fraction of the horse industry there are multiple disciplines and breeds Bruce Borders Branford North Florida Farm Association Board of Directors stated he drove 100 miles one way to get here today just to say No Build He advised that Borders Farm on his mothers side goes back 8 generations noting all he knows is farming and landscaping Mr Borders stated American family farms are endangered species Commissioner Gold returned at 341 pm Ann Broken NW 114th Loop advised from her seat in the audience that her comments have already been stated Judy Etzler NW 219th Street Road Micanopy presented a 4 page handout which she read into the record expressing her objection to the Coastal Connector David Tillman SE 16th Avenue spoke in support of a route through Marion County He opined that there is a lot of economic opportunity for having this route come through the county but he does not feel that FDOT has performed its due diligence in a proper way
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to find a route that can meet all the needs Mr Tillman stated FDOT needs to be sent back to the drawing board to find a better route and impacts fewer people Elaine Vinson West Highway 326 stated the propose route will supposedly take 500 feet off the front of her property She commented on having the soil in Marion County for raising horses which is something that should be considered Tony Beresford NW 90th Avenue commented on the process that seems to go back to 1980 when there was talk of building a road not necessarily a toll road between Tampa and Jacksonville which is the directive that was given to the consultants He opined that the Governor needs to step in and stop this connector Linda Pizzonia West Highway 326 advised that the Coastal Connector greatly affects their business farm and way of life She opined that the connector will ruin Marion County Louise Coates NW 90th Avenue presented 2 Google Earth Maps noting she spent some time on the Internet looking west of Marion County by Highway 19 where she found a possible route She stated it shows the possibility of another route that will not impact a lot of people and the horse farms In response to Chairman Bryant Ms Coates stated the maps were sent to FDOT and the BCC David MacKay Esquire SW College Road advised that he is representing Charlotte Weber owner of Live Oak Plantation noted that he submitted a letter earlier this week to Ms Bolan and Mr Cooke and copied the Board which pointed out the significant adverse impact of the proposed corridors specifically Alternatives C2 and D1 to the farm The 2 corridors will bisect the farm from one end to the other Additional support statistics as to the large economic impact that particular farm has in Marion County were also provided however it is only 1 farm in the agricultural industry of the county Where the routes come together on Highway 27 from there north basically splits CR 225 and CR 225-A which is a strategic part of the equine industry in Marion County The Coastal Connector will have a huge impact with respect to agricultural enterprise no matter where someone is located in Marion County Agricultural operations are not as easily relocated as some may think He advised that he looked over the 1-75 Relief Task Force Summary Report which concluded with this study started Mr MacKay expressed concern that Marion County is not mentioned anywhere in the report He opined that it behooves the county to appoint a point person in the system to be on top of this going forward Matt Varney NW 90th Avenue Ocala Horse Properties advised that he has 2 questions for the Board to ask FDOT and 1 complaint Have the members of FDOT in attendance been to Ocala before today If so have they had the chance to drive these proposed routes and what did they think He noted he keeps hearing this is very early in the study and these are just lines on a map however the reality is that these lines have put into question any perspective sale within one-half mile of these routes He noted many people in the attendance today have either bought or sold farms from him or his company and asked the Board to put themselves in the eyes of a future buyer right now Would any Commissioner buy in the wake of these routes with what is known at this time Mr Varney stated the study should be stopped Karin Lunau NW 100th Street and NW 35th Lane Road was not present when called up to speak Chairman Bryant read her comments on the sign-up card into the record Northern segment options both would bring more traffic to the most congested segment of 1-75 301 and 441 cannot accommodate more traffic I suggest a third northsouth corridor from Tampa to Highway 10 (EastWest)
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Tom Grabe advised that he owns 3 properties in northwest Marion County NW 80th Avenue (business address) NW 78th Court (residence) and NW 42nd Street (70 acre) that he recently purchased for his future home but maybe not now He addressed earlier comments by Ms Bolan in regard to planning for the future and questioned what residents are supposed to do while FDOT is planning for the future Mr Grabe stated he has plans for a home a barn and farm that is now on hold He advised that he has stopped his architect since he cannot plan for the future now and they are telling him that he may have an answer in 27 years Mr Grabe noted that Ms Bolan stated the PDampE for the initial part of this took 4 years but he noticed this has taken 2 years He inquired as to how he will sell his property now that one of the routes traverses his entire piece of property and the other 2 properties fall within one-quarter mile of the line on NW 90th Mr Grabe commented on refining the routes since they are not set in stone and questioned how they will refine routes they do not have He questioned whether Marion County wants to be a destination or a pit stop between Tampa and Jacksonville Chairman Bryant advised that public comment is now closed
There was a recess at 401 pm The meeting resumed at 405 pm with all members present except Commissioner Zalak
BOARD DISCUSSION Chairman Bryant stated FDOT will now address questions posed noting Commissioners may also have a few more questions She noted that Ms Hunt asked why the choke point of Highway 27 and NW 90th Avenue were chosen Commissioner Zalak returned at 406 pm Mr Schnell stated the area of Highway 27 was initially chosen because of the traffic both existing and future He noted this is very preliminary and can be moved in another direction Chairman Bryant inquired if someone gave them direction to use Highway 27 or if it was based solely on traffic Mr Schnell advised that it was solely based on traffic Chairman Bryant referred to an article in the Ocala Star Banner newspaper dated October 14 2017 that stated input was received from local representatives and inquired as to who those representatives were Ms Bolan stated they met with some of the staff from Marion and Citrus counties as well as the cities of Crystal River Dunnellon and Inverness She clarified that they also received input from the public at their meetings Chairman Bryant noted Ms Hunt also questioned whether any routes were chosen to support any economic development projects occurring in Marion County at this time Ms Bolan stated they are not aware of doing that however they do look at the land use and maybe knowing some developments are coming which are considerations but there is not one in particular as they have no special interest in this noting it is a transportation project to try and plan for the future infrastructure needed in the area Chairman Bryant noted one other question was whether FDOT knows what the reasons were for being told to stay away from SR 200 and Highway 41 Mr Schnell stated if he recalls correctly he believes SR 200 was because of some environmental features along that area approaching the Withlacoochee River and concern with Highway 41 going through the City of Dunnellon Commissioner Zalak expressed his appreciation for FDOT for taking the time to be here today and advised that his request is to stop the routes as it really puts a choke hold on the equine industry at this point He understands that FDOT will always be studying
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routes The county is always trying to figure out how to move people around in the most efficient and effective manner which is what FDOT is trying to do Commissioner Zalak spoke to the uniqueness of Marion County and the equine industry and expressed his hopes that FDOT will take that into consideration He stated if the route has to go through Marion County he would like to sit down and find the best route for the county that does not impact the horse farms Commissioner Zalak stated there may be some existing corridors with better options and requested that these options be taken off the table Mr Cooke stated they would love to work with staff and the commission to perhaps come up with another corridor that is different than what is seen today Commissioner Moore commented on growing up in Crystal River and encouraged FDOT to look at Highway 19 He noted Levy and Alachua counties have said no and it is not right that Marion County should have a problem because those 2 counties said no The most logical route was what they had in the 1980 where the route ran up into Levy County and either at Trenton or Lebanon Station it cut over Commissioner Moore recommended FDOT revisit some of the logical routes rather than going through the heart of horse country He noted another route takes you over to the east and runs up through publicly owned lands however there are some environmental considerations Commissioner Gold advised that he pulled the maps for Highway 19 and asked if FDOT has looked at that route Ms Bolan stated Highway 19 is a longer route and is a little counterintuitive if you are trying to go from Tampa to Jacksonville She advised that the Hurricane Evacuation Committee with the Legislature had asked to look at noting there was going to be a study looking straight up Highway 19 or north up to 1-10 but that was recently vetoed so that study stopped FDOT can take these things into consideration Commissioner Gold urged FDOT to look at Highway 19 noting there is a slight shift to the west but it is not as significant as he originally thought Mr Cooke opined that is possible and noted it was something that had also been mentioned in a lot of comments Commissioner Stone expressed her appreciation to FDOTs flexibility and conversation she had with Mr Cooke prior to this workshop which gave her some ease knowing that they are here to listen and believes they are hearing the comments loud and clear She inquired as to how they refine what you do not have since these are non-committed lines drawn on the maps Mr Cooke commented on adjusting the corridors maybe east or west of where they are today in the general area of where they are He noted that a lot of speakers today are certainly not in favor of that at all but that was the refinement looking at an existing corridor and perhaps shifting it 500 feet 1000 feet or one-quarter mile one way or the other Mr Cooke advised that they hear what is being said they are listening and will look at alternatives He stated they will work with staff to hopefully come up with a solution that is workable for everyone Henry Pinzon Turnpike Environmental Management Engineer stated what is seen here is very important and expressed his appreciation for input from the Board and public today He stated he hears the concern with the corridors today and advised that they are going back to the drawing table to come with new ideas The plan is to meet with county staff as well as city staff to come up with a better solution Commissioner Stone stated the input from staff will come from the BCC She advised that her direction to staff is that these routes cannot be considered at all period The 500 foot and 300 foot variances will not work for this refinement means she wants them totally erased
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Mr Schell advised that they are in agreement with that noting it is not just refinement it is elimination and looking at something else altogether Commissioner Stone stated elimination is a great way to reference the corridors Commissioner Zalak stated from a toll perspective he can see monetarily why a route to JacksonvilleTampa may be important from a logistical standpoint and other travelers going updown northsouth 1-75 1-95 as well as other corridors northsouth of Highway 19 He stated FDOT must have some perspective on the money to fund a toll route from Tampa to Jacksonville He inquired about a toll route that is a 3 rd corridor that runs northsouth and questioned if that has been evaluated by the Toll Commission Mr Pinzon stated they need to evaluate routes that have a good potential to be economically feasible If you look at a 100 mile route going to the north with no real road crossings it is going to be very difficult to make that road financially feasible Commissioner Moore addressed earlier comment about monorail and whether a monorail system has been considered Ms Bolan advised that as part of the 1-75 Relief Task Force there was some recommendations to look at rail studies There is currently an ongoing study that FDOT out of Tallahassee has been performing looking at some of the existing rail corridors and rail options however rail is not part of the turnpike portion of FDOT She stated they cannot speak specifically for that but there is an ongoing study and they can get the BCC in touch with those folks working on that study Commissioner Moore commented on airport hubs and questioned why something like this would not go over toward Williston where there is a regional airport and away from other areas Ms Bolan stated a lot of it is based on future traffic projections General discussion ensued
CLOSING COMMENTS Chairman Bryant thanked FDOT once again for coming here today and listening to concerns from Marion County It is very evident that residents are concerned about what is happening in their community especially the northwest and western part of the county The countys agricultural community encompasses a lot of different things as was heard today and encompasses farming the thoroughbred industry not just northwest Marion County but the entire county The routes proposed go through northwest and west Marion County both of which are represented by herself and Commissioner Stone Chairman Bryant opined that the Board is asking for elimination of all proposed routes She advised that the county has started to craft a Resolution noting copies have been provided to fellow commissioners The Resolution will likely be presented at the next BCC meeting (June 5 2018) as action cannot be taken at a workshop however general consensus can be given Chairman Bryant asked that a copy of the proposed Resolution be forwarded to FDOT so they can see what is in it which talks a lot about the impact that Coastal Connector would bring to Marion County specifically to citizens talked about today Chairman Bryant asked that FDOT take that into consideration and that they quickly come out publicly and let it be known that you are no longer considering the routes as proposed As heard today these proposed routes do affect peoples lives and plans as well as real estate sales because if you know something like this is planned in your backyard you have to disclose that information to a prospective buyer which is a valid point This also makes a difference as far as people investing more into the community Chairman Bryant spoke to fellow commissioners about the Resolution that was handed out to each of them and asked that they look it over She stated if a commissioner would
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like to have anything added before the next meeting on June 5 2018 to contact the County Attorney and asked if there are any questions or suggestions at this time Chairman Bryant advised that if she has Board consensus the Resolution will be on the next BCC Agenda It was the general consensus of the Board to agree to placing the Resolution on the June 5 2018 BCC Agenda Commissioner Stone advised that she has already provided input to Mr Minter Chairman Bryant asked that FDOT go back to what the 1-75 Relief Task Force was talking about noting there was a route in the recommendation that made a lot of sense and did not impact folks like it does Marion County now Chairman Bryant reiterated her thanks to FDOT for coming out today and listening noting the Boards job is not always easy and today FDOTs job is not easy She voiced her hope that those in the audience will thank FDOT for coming and participating today Commissioner Gold advised that the Resolution includes a request to the Governor Commissioner Stone thanked FDOT for its flexibility and hearing the county She stated she looks forward to FDOTs formal elimination of these routes
It was noted for the record that the Deputy Clerk received a 4 page brochure regarding the Coastal Connector from County Engineer Tracy Straub OCE a 3 page document from Calvin amp Lynda Miller a large map from John Rudinanyn and a 15 page document from Judy Greenberg
There being no further business to come before the Board the meeting thereupon adjourned at 426 pm
athy B nt Chairman
Attest
David R Ellsp mann Clerk
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Mr Schell referred to Slide 17 addressing Corridor Alternative Segments noting Alternative C1 and Alternative C2 are in Citrus County with an easement that runs east and west The objective there was to follow that easement The one farthest east (shown in orange) is adjacent or close to SR 200 uses an easement that crosses the Withlacoochee River To some extent they did look at existing roads but more so they were looking at easements or other areas that were possibly already disturbed Chairman Bryant thanked Messrs Cooke and Schnell as well as Ms Bolan for giving the presentation today She advised that she will ask several elected officials (Mayor Guinn Mayor Green Representative Stone and Representative McClain) if they wish to speak now or after public comment noting their time will not be included in the 1-hour time limit Ms Bolan stated they are listening and would like to continue to work with county staff (ie Engineering and Planning staff) and other municipalities and their staff as well as the equestrian communities agricultural communities and businesses that are important to this area Chairman Bryant reiterated earlier comment that this is very early in the planning stage and nothing has been cast in stone nor is there any funding for this project She stated FDOT could go back at the end of the day and say No Build
GENERAL PUBLIC COMMENT All members of the public wishing to speak during the General Public portion of the agenda will be limited to two (2) minutes to make their comments regarding the Coastal Connector At the discretion of the Chairman public comment will be heard for a total of one-hour Mayor Kent Guinn City of Ocala noted this is very early in the process which is a great time to stop it He stated it is his understanding that folks in Gainesville Alachua County asked that this not go through their county but is not sure that is correct Mayor Guinn urged the group to find a different route as this is the heart and soul of Marion County He noted his family came here in 1850 and urged the BCC to prepare a Resolution to say they are absolutely against the Coastal Connector Mayor Guinn further stated he is hopeful that the Ocala City Council will also adopt a Resolution to mirror the countys Mayor Walter Green City of Dunnellon advised that the city is currently working on its Resolution noting they want this entire issue stopped He stated he cannot recall an issue that has united our people in opposition to anything as this particular item noting he was raised in Dunnellon He commended Mr Cooke and his team as they have done a good job in relaying exactly what they know Mayor Green stated the route should continue to red level as was originally designed He noted the state currently owns a corridor (US Highway19) that is underutilized the map in the handout does not show Highway 19 only Ocala and Dunnellon This is a northsouth issue not an eastwest issue Mayor Green assured everyone that you do not go from one coast to another during a hurricane as hurricanes span the State of Florida He opined that they should go back to the original plan Representative Stan McClain advised from his seat in the audience that he has nothing further to add Representative Charlie Stone advised from his seat in the audience that he has nothing further to add Chairman Bryant noted that many who signed up to speak were here Tuesday May 15 2018 and are aware of what was said by the Board She asked that speakers keep their comments direct and to the point so that others can have an opportunity to also speak Margie Husted SW 61St Place Road advised from her seat in the audience that Mayor Green spoke for her
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Annette Stutzman SW 192nd Court Romeo agreed with Mayor Greens comments She commented on the possible routes and recommended FDOT stop the Coastal Connector Alternative Corridor evaluation today and have no toll road Connie Bryant SW 31st Street Dunnellon stated a lot of what she wanted to say has already been said but the Coastal Connector will destroy Marion County She advised that she is opposed Kristin Schlegel SW 121st Terrace advised that she purchased her property because it backed up to Florida Forever protected land She commented on proposed construction of a roadway made for environmentally sensitive areas and the impact on wildlife Ms Schlegal expressed her support for the widening of 1-75 and improving existing infrastructure She advised that the turnpike is in terrible condition Kimberly Carp NW 110th Avenue Horse Country Carriage Company and Tours Kimberden Farm the University of Florida and Trinity Catholic Equestrian Team advised that she is opposed to the Coastal Connector The fallout from the loss of farmland will have negative effects on many sectors of the local economy including ecotourism She demanded that the Costal Connector routes for Marion County be formally withdrawn immediately Mary Jane Hunt NW 90th Avenue presented a 1page handout addressing her questions to FDOT which she read into the record She expressed her appreciation to FDOT representatives for coming today Kathrin Dancer NW 80th Avenue commented on how she learned about the Coastal Connection as she was never notified about the road possibilities She expressed concern with the impact on her property Marie Schinman NW 82nd Court (Forest of Golden Hills) commented on the impact to her property and others in the area James Scott SW 19th Avenue Road General Manager Kinsman Stud Farm and President of the Florida Thoroughbred Farm Managers thanked the Board and FDOT for todays workshop He advised that they are vigorously opposed to the Coastal Connector Manuel Escalante NW 115th Avenue commented on the port-to-port highway which basically tells us that the priority for the State of Florida is businesses and is not taking into account the livelihood of Marion County He encouraged FDOT to take into account the status of Marion County and what the citizens are seeking David A Velez NW 120th Street Morriston noted the Coastal Connector proposal goes through the heart of Marion County He inquired as to what community is asking for this project Mr Velez advised that this is a democracy and the people here respectfully request our elected officials to act accordingly Richard Olsen NW 100th Avenue advised that on September 19 2017 the House of Representatives created a select committee on hurricane responses and preparedness who were charged to gather information solicit ideas and make recommendations on how to better prepare for future hurricanes Their final report was issued on January 16 2018 where the first set of recommendations was that of evacuations Among the recommended improvements was to extend the Suncoast Highway to the Georgia (GA) state line to provide another northsouth evacuation option Nowhere in the Floridas Turnpike Enterprise (FTE) Study was this route mentioned nor were others such as the route north of Gainesville for a possible connection to 1-10 He opined that this is a matter of public safety which commissioners have always made that paramount in any decisions made To risk the safety of thousands for the benefit of a few is reprehensible
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Joan Pletcher S Highway 475 advised that she represents landowners people she has sold land to who all came to Marion County because of the beautiful land peace and quiet She opined that FDOT BCC and Secretary of State need to recognize what our horse industry and agriculture bring to the State of Florida She urged the Board to vote against the Coastal Connector and ask FDOT to find another place Henry J Munoz Marion Oaks Boulevard commented on the toll road which puts it under the Toll Commission Authority not FDOT and questioned who will have oversight He further questioned why the proposal is to go from Tampa to Jacksonville rather than going north Mr Munoz asked what happened to rail and commented on eminent domain He stated now is the time to expand 1-75 Commissioner Gold left his seat at 319 pm but did not leave the auditorium Amy Agricola West Anthony Road advised that her property is not on the map but she is here to support the entire community of Marion County noting she has a few questions that were raised during the presentation She inquired as to who asked that Highway 41 and SR 200 not be looked at because it did not come from the public Ms Agricola stated she does not understand why we are looking at this when we could be looking at different things such as rail monorails or public transportation noting this is outdated technology She asked that the county be formally withdrawn from this study to save taxpayer dollars Lonny Powell Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Florida Thoroughbred Breeders and Owners Association (FTBOA) SW 60th Avenue noted he is also a resident of Dunnellon Commissioner Gold returned to his seat at 321 pm He stated the Boards discussion at their meeting on Tuesday (May 15 2018) to adopt a Resolution opposing the Coastal Connector is the appropriate action noting residents are also counting on our Senators Representatives Governors Office and Gubernatorial Candidates to also show the same courage as the BCC Mr Powell advised that on May 14 2018 a letter was sent to FDOT and the Board stating their position Janet Barrow SW 164th Avenue Road Dunnellon opined that the State of Florida needs to redefine what progress is because building more roads to accommodate more people will eventually not work She stated the studies are flawed and commented on Alternative C2 which crosses the gas pipeline over a sinkhole that was filled in with dirt and was described in FDOTs Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) as a shallow depression Ms Barrow noted she is watching what the state and federal government and local officials are doing She expressed her support for No Build Brian Donnelly West Anthony Road stated it is important for FDOT to understand why the Coastal Connector is not for Marion County it does not fit with the goals and objectives of the Master Plan He noted the county did as FDOT directed by improving existing roads before building new ones Mr Donnelly stated it is important to understand why Levy and Alachua countys said no to this proposal He presented a 5 page handout which includes a 2 page proposed letter from Alachua County a 2 page letter from Levy County Commissioners and a colored Map 1 Marion County 2035 Future Land Use Map (FLUM) Mr Donnelly stated as long as this proposal is on the table the community is an unstable place from a business perspective as no one likes to invest in uncertainty or purchase property when they do not know if their property will be part of an exit a turnpike pipeline or service plaza This is not just about a road it is about a taking of a ROW to allow anything to happen He urged the Board to stay the course and follow the adopted plans to protect the countys heritage and future Charles Lee Director of Advocacy Audobon Florida Audobon Way Maitland and member of the 1-75 Relief Task Force asked the Board to pass a Resolution pointedly
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requesting Governor Rick Scott to direct that the Executive Director of FTE discontinue this study This study should go no further and it is important to understand the costs of simply dependency of this study remaining in place the cost of tax dollars to conduct the study but more importantly are the costs to the lives of the people who are being disrupted because the study is in progress He stated it is important to note that throughout the presentation the 2 brief mentions given by the turnpike group here today did not tell you that the recommendation by the Task Force was not to do what they are currently doing Lura Bergh NW 90th Avenue Reddick stated this is a poorly planned area that FDOT decided to put the Coastal Connector through She commented on connecting on 1-10 would be a much better route Annette Plouffe SW 140th Avenue Dunnellon advised from her seat in the audience that her comments have all been stated Commissioner Gold out at 331 pm Douglas Shearer SE 85th Street commented on the future driverless vehicles and suggested making 1-75 a partial toll road for trucks and charge more for trucks using the road during the day He stated there are a lot of ways to relieve 1-75 noting a path from Tampa to Jacksonville can be made Michelle Shearer SE 85th Street stated the county should not waste any more time on this and urged the Board to tell Governor Scott not in Marion County Tami Bobo NW 90th Avenue presented a 1 page handout which she read into the record Todd Wojciehowski SE 32nd Avenue Ocala Breeders Sales Company (OBS) SW 60th Avenue stated this project has the potential to dramatically change the landscape of Marion County He commented on the economic impacts as it applies to OBS OBS is a thoroughbred auction company and feed mill that has been in business in Marion County for 40 years It is the center of commerce for the thoroughbred race horse industry as well as the marketing segment and tool for the State of Florida He advised that the numbers he is about to give are real not projections Since 2010 OBS has sold nearly 22000 horses for over $1000000000 with the vast majority of these horses either being raised or receiving their early training in Marion County the recently concluded OBS April sale generated a record $69000000 in sales in 4 days OBS is truly an international market place as buyers who come to sales represent 38 different countries and 49 of the 50 states in the United States (US) Of those buyers 80 percent () come from out of town which means they come to our community This is only 1 fraction of the horse industry there are multiple disciplines and breeds Bruce Borders Branford North Florida Farm Association Board of Directors stated he drove 100 miles one way to get here today just to say No Build He advised that Borders Farm on his mothers side goes back 8 generations noting all he knows is farming and landscaping Mr Borders stated American family farms are endangered species Commissioner Gold returned at 341 pm Ann Broken NW 114th Loop advised from her seat in the audience that her comments have already been stated Judy Etzler NW 219th Street Road Micanopy presented a 4 page handout which she read into the record expressing her objection to the Coastal Connector David Tillman SE 16th Avenue spoke in support of a route through Marion County He opined that there is a lot of economic opportunity for having this route come through the county but he does not feel that FDOT has performed its due diligence in a proper way
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to find a route that can meet all the needs Mr Tillman stated FDOT needs to be sent back to the drawing board to find a better route and impacts fewer people Elaine Vinson West Highway 326 stated the propose route will supposedly take 500 feet off the front of her property She commented on having the soil in Marion County for raising horses which is something that should be considered Tony Beresford NW 90th Avenue commented on the process that seems to go back to 1980 when there was talk of building a road not necessarily a toll road between Tampa and Jacksonville which is the directive that was given to the consultants He opined that the Governor needs to step in and stop this connector Linda Pizzonia West Highway 326 advised that the Coastal Connector greatly affects their business farm and way of life She opined that the connector will ruin Marion County Louise Coates NW 90th Avenue presented 2 Google Earth Maps noting she spent some time on the Internet looking west of Marion County by Highway 19 where she found a possible route She stated it shows the possibility of another route that will not impact a lot of people and the horse farms In response to Chairman Bryant Ms Coates stated the maps were sent to FDOT and the BCC David MacKay Esquire SW College Road advised that he is representing Charlotte Weber owner of Live Oak Plantation noted that he submitted a letter earlier this week to Ms Bolan and Mr Cooke and copied the Board which pointed out the significant adverse impact of the proposed corridors specifically Alternatives C2 and D1 to the farm The 2 corridors will bisect the farm from one end to the other Additional support statistics as to the large economic impact that particular farm has in Marion County were also provided however it is only 1 farm in the agricultural industry of the county Where the routes come together on Highway 27 from there north basically splits CR 225 and CR 225-A which is a strategic part of the equine industry in Marion County The Coastal Connector will have a huge impact with respect to agricultural enterprise no matter where someone is located in Marion County Agricultural operations are not as easily relocated as some may think He advised that he looked over the 1-75 Relief Task Force Summary Report which concluded with this study started Mr MacKay expressed concern that Marion County is not mentioned anywhere in the report He opined that it behooves the county to appoint a point person in the system to be on top of this going forward Matt Varney NW 90th Avenue Ocala Horse Properties advised that he has 2 questions for the Board to ask FDOT and 1 complaint Have the members of FDOT in attendance been to Ocala before today If so have they had the chance to drive these proposed routes and what did they think He noted he keeps hearing this is very early in the study and these are just lines on a map however the reality is that these lines have put into question any perspective sale within one-half mile of these routes He noted many people in the attendance today have either bought or sold farms from him or his company and asked the Board to put themselves in the eyes of a future buyer right now Would any Commissioner buy in the wake of these routes with what is known at this time Mr Varney stated the study should be stopped Karin Lunau NW 100th Street and NW 35th Lane Road was not present when called up to speak Chairman Bryant read her comments on the sign-up card into the record Northern segment options both would bring more traffic to the most congested segment of 1-75 301 and 441 cannot accommodate more traffic I suggest a third northsouth corridor from Tampa to Highway 10 (EastWest)
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Tom Grabe advised that he owns 3 properties in northwest Marion County NW 80th Avenue (business address) NW 78th Court (residence) and NW 42nd Street (70 acre) that he recently purchased for his future home but maybe not now He addressed earlier comments by Ms Bolan in regard to planning for the future and questioned what residents are supposed to do while FDOT is planning for the future Mr Grabe stated he has plans for a home a barn and farm that is now on hold He advised that he has stopped his architect since he cannot plan for the future now and they are telling him that he may have an answer in 27 years Mr Grabe noted that Ms Bolan stated the PDampE for the initial part of this took 4 years but he noticed this has taken 2 years He inquired as to how he will sell his property now that one of the routes traverses his entire piece of property and the other 2 properties fall within one-quarter mile of the line on NW 90th Mr Grabe commented on refining the routes since they are not set in stone and questioned how they will refine routes they do not have He questioned whether Marion County wants to be a destination or a pit stop between Tampa and Jacksonville Chairman Bryant advised that public comment is now closed
There was a recess at 401 pm The meeting resumed at 405 pm with all members present except Commissioner Zalak
BOARD DISCUSSION Chairman Bryant stated FDOT will now address questions posed noting Commissioners may also have a few more questions She noted that Ms Hunt asked why the choke point of Highway 27 and NW 90th Avenue were chosen Commissioner Zalak returned at 406 pm Mr Schnell stated the area of Highway 27 was initially chosen because of the traffic both existing and future He noted this is very preliminary and can be moved in another direction Chairman Bryant inquired if someone gave them direction to use Highway 27 or if it was based solely on traffic Mr Schnell advised that it was solely based on traffic Chairman Bryant referred to an article in the Ocala Star Banner newspaper dated October 14 2017 that stated input was received from local representatives and inquired as to who those representatives were Ms Bolan stated they met with some of the staff from Marion and Citrus counties as well as the cities of Crystal River Dunnellon and Inverness She clarified that they also received input from the public at their meetings Chairman Bryant noted Ms Hunt also questioned whether any routes were chosen to support any economic development projects occurring in Marion County at this time Ms Bolan stated they are not aware of doing that however they do look at the land use and maybe knowing some developments are coming which are considerations but there is not one in particular as they have no special interest in this noting it is a transportation project to try and plan for the future infrastructure needed in the area Chairman Bryant noted one other question was whether FDOT knows what the reasons were for being told to stay away from SR 200 and Highway 41 Mr Schnell stated if he recalls correctly he believes SR 200 was because of some environmental features along that area approaching the Withlacoochee River and concern with Highway 41 going through the City of Dunnellon Commissioner Zalak expressed his appreciation for FDOT for taking the time to be here today and advised that his request is to stop the routes as it really puts a choke hold on the equine industry at this point He understands that FDOT will always be studying
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routes The county is always trying to figure out how to move people around in the most efficient and effective manner which is what FDOT is trying to do Commissioner Zalak spoke to the uniqueness of Marion County and the equine industry and expressed his hopes that FDOT will take that into consideration He stated if the route has to go through Marion County he would like to sit down and find the best route for the county that does not impact the horse farms Commissioner Zalak stated there may be some existing corridors with better options and requested that these options be taken off the table Mr Cooke stated they would love to work with staff and the commission to perhaps come up with another corridor that is different than what is seen today Commissioner Moore commented on growing up in Crystal River and encouraged FDOT to look at Highway 19 He noted Levy and Alachua counties have said no and it is not right that Marion County should have a problem because those 2 counties said no The most logical route was what they had in the 1980 where the route ran up into Levy County and either at Trenton or Lebanon Station it cut over Commissioner Moore recommended FDOT revisit some of the logical routes rather than going through the heart of horse country He noted another route takes you over to the east and runs up through publicly owned lands however there are some environmental considerations Commissioner Gold advised that he pulled the maps for Highway 19 and asked if FDOT has looked at that route Ms Bolan stated Highway 19 is a longer route and is a little counterintuitive if you are trying to go from Tampa to Jacksonville She advised that the Hurricane Evacuation Committee with the Legislature had asked to look at noting there was going to be a study looking straight up Highway 19 or north up to 1-10 but that was recently vetoed so that study stopped FDOT can take these things into consideration Commissioner Gold urged FDOT to look at Highway 19 noting there is a slight shift to the west but it is not as significant as he originally thought Mr Cooke opined that is possible and noted it was something that had also been mentioned in a lot of comments Commissioner Stone expressed her appreciation to FDOTs flexibility and conversation she had with Mr Cooke prior to this workshop which gave her some ease knowing that they are here to listen and believes they are hearing the comments loud and clear She inquired as to how they refine what you do not have since these are non-committed lines drawn on the maps Mr Cooke commented on adjusting the corridors maybe east or west of where they are today in the general area of where they are He noted that a lot of speakers today are certainly not in favor of that at all but that was the refinement looking at an existing corridor and perhaps shifting it 500 feet 1000 feet or one-quarter mile one way or the other Mr Cooke advised that they hear what is being said they are listening and will look at alternatives He stated they will work with staff to hopefully come up with a solution that is workable for everyone Henry Pinzon Turnpike Environmental Management Engineer stated what is seen here is very important and expressed his appreciation for input from the Board and public today He stated he hears the concern with the corridors today and advised that they are going back to the drawing table to come with new ideas The plan is to meet with county staff as well as city staff to come up with a better solution Commissioner Stone stated the input from staff will come from the BCC She advised that her direction to staff is that these routes cannot be considered at all period The 500 foot and 300 foot variances will not work for this refinement means she wants them totally erased
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Mr Schell advised that they are in agreement with that noting it is not just refinement it is elimination and looking at something else altogether Commissioner Stone stated elimination is a great way to reference the corridors Commissioner Zalak stated from a toll perspective he can see monetarily why a route to JacksonvilleTampa may be important from a logistical standpoint and other travelers going updown northsouth 1-75 1-95 as well as other corridors northsouth of Highway 19 He stated FDOT must have some perspective on the money to fund a toll route from Tampa to Jacksonville He inquired about a toll route that is a 3 rd corridor that runs northsouth and questioned if that has been evaluated by the Toll Commission Mr Pinzon stated they need to evaluate routes that have a good potential to be economically feasible If you look at a 100 mile route going to the north with no real road crossings it is going to be very difficult to make that road financially feasible Commissioner Moore addressed earlier comment about monorail and whether a monorail system has been considered Ms Bolan advised that as part of the 1-75 Relief Task Force there was some recommendations to look at rail studies There is currently an ongoing study that FDOT out of Tallahassee has been performing looking at some of the existing rail corridors and rail options however rail is not part of the turnpike portion of FDOT She stated they cannot speak specifically for that but there is an ongoing study and they can get the BCC in touch with those folks working on that study Commissioner Moore commented on airport hubs and questioned why something like this would not go over toward Williston where there is a regional airport and away from other areas Ms Bolan stated a lot of it is based on future traffic projections General discussion ensued
CLOSING COMMENTS Chairman Bryant thanked FDOT once again for coming here today and listening to concerns from Marion County It is very evident that residents are concerned about what is happening in their community especially the northwest and western part of the county The countys agricultural community encompasses a lot of different things as was heard today and encompasses farming the thoroughbred industry not just northwest Marion County but the entire county The routes proposed go through northwest and west Marion County both of which are represented by herself and Commissioner Stone Chairman Bryant opined that the Board is asking for elimination of all proposed routes She advised that the county has started to craft a Resolution noting copies have been provided to fellow commissioners The Resolution will likely be presented at the next BCC meeting (June 5 2018) as action cannot be taken at a workshop however general consensus can be given Chairman Bryant asked that a copy of the proposed Resolution be forwarded to FDOT so they can see what is in it which talks a lot about the impact that Coastal Connector would bring to Marion County specifically to citizens talked about today Chairman Bryant asked that FDOT take that into consideration and that they quickly come out publicly and let it be known that you are no longer considering the routes as proposed As heard today these proposed routes do affect peoples lives and plans as well as real estate sales because if you know something like this is planned in your backyard you have to disclose that information to a prospective buyer which is a valid point This also makes a difference as far as people investing more into the community Chairman Bryant spoke to fellow commissioners about the Resolution that was handed out to each of them and asked that they look it over She stated if a commissioner would
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like to have anything added before the next meeting on June 5 2018 to contact the County Attorney and asked if there are any questions or suggestions at this time Chairman Bryant advised that if she has Board consensus the Resolution will be on the next BCC Agenda It was the general consensus of the Board to agree to placing the Resolution on the June 5 2018 BCC Agenda Commissioner Stone advised that she has already provided input to Mr Minter Chairman Bryant asked that FDOT go back to what the 1-75 Relief Task Force was talking about noting there was a route in the recommendation that made a lot of sense and did not impact folks like it does Marion County now Chairman Bryant reiterated her thanks to FDOT for coming out today and listening noting the Boards job is not always easy and today FDOTs job is not easy She voiced her hope that those in the audience will thank FDOT for coming and participating today Commissioner Gold advised that the Resolution includes a request to the Governor Commissioner Stone thanked FDOT for its flexibility and hearing the county She stated she looks forward to FDOTs formal elimination of these routes
It was noted for the record that the Deputy Clerk received a 4 page brochure regarding the Coastal Connector from County Engineer Tracy Straub OCE a 3 page document from Calvin amp Lynda Miller a large map from John Rudinanyn and a 15 page document from Judy Greenberg
There being no further business to come before the Board the meeting thereupon adjourned at 426 pm
athy B nt Chairman
Attest
David R Ellsp mann Clerk
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Annette Stutzman SW 192nd Court Romeo agreed with Mayor Greens comments She commented on the possible routes and recommended FDOT stop the Coastal Connector Alternative Corridor evaluation today and have no toll road Connie Bryant SW 31st Street Dunnellon stated a lot of what she wanted to say has already been said but the Coastal Connector will destroy Marion County She advised that she is opposed Kristin Schlegel SW 121st Terrace advised that she purchased her property because it backed up to Florida Forever protected land She commented on proposed construction of a roadway made for environmentally sensitive areas and the impact on wildlife Ms Schlegal expressed her support for the widening of 1-75 and improving existing infrastructure She advised that the turnpike is in terrible condition Kimberly Carp NW 110th Avenue Horse Country Carriage Company and Tours Kimberden Farm the University of Florida and Trinity Catholic Equestrian Team advised that she is opposed to the Coastal Connector The fallout from the loss of farmland will have negative effects on many sectors of the local economy including ecotourism She demanded that the Costal Connector routes for Marion County be formally withdrawn immediately Mary Jane Hunt NW 90th Avenue presented a 1page handout addressing her questions to FDOT which she read into the record She expressed her appreciation to FDOT representatives for coming today Kathrin Dancer NW 80th Avenue commented on how she learned about the Coastal Connection as she was never notified about the road possibilities She expressed concern with the impact on her property Marie Schinman NW 82nd Court (Forest of Golden Hills) commented on the impact to her property and others in the area James Scott SW 19th Avenue Road General Manager Kinsman Stud Farm and President of the Florida Thoroughbred Farm Managers thanked the Board and FDOT for todays workshop He advised that they are vigorously opposed to the Coastal Connector Manuel Escalante NW 115th Avenue commented on the port-to-port highway which basically tells us that the priority for the State of Florida is businesses and is not taking into account the livelihood of Marion County He encouraged FDOT to take into account the status of Marion County and what the citizens are seeking David A Velez NW 120th Street Morriston noted the Coastal Connector proposal goes through the heart of Marion County He inquired as to what community is asking for this project Mr Velez advised that this is a democracy and the people here respectfully request our elected officials to act accordingly Richard Olsen NW 100th Avenue advised that on September 19 2017 the House of Representatives created a select committee on hurricane responses and preparedness who were charged to gather information solicit ideas and make recommendations on how to better prepare for future hurricanes Their final report was issued on January 16 2018 where the first set of recommendations was that of evacuations Among the recommended improvements was to extend the Suncoast Highway to the Georgia (GA) state line to provide another northsouth evacuation option Nowhere in the Floridas Turnpike Enterprise (FTE) Study was this route mentioned nor were others such as the route north of Gainesville for a possible connection to 1-10 He opined that this is a matter of public safety which commissioners have always made that paramount in any decisions made To risk the safety of thousands for the benefit of a few is reprehensible
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Joan Pletcher S Highway 475 advised that she represents landowners people she has sold land to who all came to Marion County because of the beautiful land peace and quiet She opined that FDOT BCC and Secretary of State need to recognize what our horse industry and agriculture bring to the State of Florida She urged the Board to vote against the Coastal Connector and ask FDOT to find another place Henry J Munoz Marion Oaks Boulevard commented on the toll road which puts it under the Toll Commission Authority not FDOT and questioned who will have oversight He further questioned why the proposal is to go from Tampa to Jacksonville rather than going north Mr Munoz asked what happened to rail and commented on eminent domain He stated now is the time to expand 1-75 Commissioner Gold left his seat at 319 pm but did not leave the auditorium Amy Agricola West Anthony Road advised that her property is not on the map but she is here to support the entire community of Marion County noting she has a few questions that were raised during the presentation She inquired as to who asked that Highway 41 and SR 200 not be looked at because it did not come from the public Ms Agricola stated she does not understand why we are looking at this when we could be looking at different things such as rail monorails or public transportation noting this is outdated technology She asked that the county be formally withdrawn from this study to save taxpayer dollars Lonny Powell Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Florida Thoroughbred Breeders and Owners Association (FTBOA) SW 60th Avenue noted he is also a resident of Dunnellon Commissioner Gold returned to his seat at 321 pm He stated the Boards discussion at their meeting on Tuesday (May 15 2018) to adopt a Resolution opposing the Coastal Connector is the appropriate action noting residents are also counting on our Senators Representatives Governors Office and Gubernatorial Candidates to also show the same courage as the BCC Mr Powell advised that on May 14 2018 a letter was sent to FDOT and the Board stating their position Janet Barrow SW 164th Avenue Road Dunnellon opined that the State of Florida needs to redefine what progress is because building more roads to accommodate more people will eventually not work She stated the studies are flawed and commented on Alternative C2 which crosses the gas pipeline over a sinkhole that was filled in with dirt and was described in FDOTs Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) as a shallow depression Ms Barrow noted she is watching what the state and federal government and local officials are doing She expressed her support for No Build Brian Donnelly West Anthony Road stated it is important for FDOT to understand why the Coastal Connector is not for Marion County it does not fit with the goals and objectives of the Master Plan He noted the county did as FDOT directed by improving existing roads before building new ones Mr Donnelly stated it is important to understand why Levy and Alachua countys said no to this proposal He presented a 5 page handout which includes a 2 page proposed letter from Alachua County a 2 page letter from Levy County Commissioners and a colored Map 1 Marion County 2035 Future Land Use Map (FLUM) Mr Donnelly stated as long as this proposal is on the table the community is an unstable place from a business perspective as no one likes to invest in uncertainty or purchase property when they do not know if their property will be part of an exit a turnpike pipeline or service plaza This is not just about a road it is about a taking of a ROW to allow anything to happen He urged the Board to stay the course and follow the adopted plans to protect the countys heritage and future Charles Lee Director of Advocacy Audobon Florida Audobon Way Maitland and member of the 1-75 Relief Task Force asked the Board to pass a Resolution pointedly
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requesting Governor Rick Scott to direct that the Executive Director of FTE discontinue this study This study should go no further and it is important to understand the costs of simply dependency of this study remaining in place the cost of tax dollars to conduct the study but more importantly are the costs to the lives of the people who are being disrupted because the study is in progress He stated it is important to note that throughout the presentation the 2 brief mentions given by the turnpike group here today did not tell you that the recommendation by the Task Force was not to do what they are currently doing Lura Bergh NW 90th Avenue Reddick stated this is a poorly planned area that FDOT decided to put the Coastal Connector through She commented on connecting on 1-10 would be a much better route Annette Plouffe SW 140th Avenue Dunnellon advised from her seat in the audience that her comments have all been stated Commissioner Gold out at 331 pm Douglas Shearer SE 85th Street commented on the future driverless vehicles and suggested making 1-75 a partial toll road for trucks and charge more for trucks using the road during the day He stated there are a lot of ways to relieve 1-75 noting a path from Tampa to Jacksonville can be made Michelle Shearer SE 85th Street stated the county should not waste any more time on this and urged the Board to tell Governor Scott not in Marion County Tami Bobo NW 90th Avenue presented a 1 page handout which she read into the record Todd Wojciehowski SE 32nd Avenue Ocala Breeders Sales Company (OBS) SW 60th Avenue stated this project has the potential to dramatically change the landscape of Marion County He commented on the economic impacts as it applies to OBS OBS is a thoroughbred auction company and feed mill that has been in business in Marion County for 40 years It is the center of commerce for the thoroughbred race horse industry as well as the marketing segment and tool for the State of Florida He advised that the numbers he is about to give are real not projections Since 2010 OBS has sold nearly 22000 horses for over $1000000000 with the vast majority of these horses either being raised or receiving their early training in Marion County the recently concluded OBS April sale generated a record $69000000 in sales in 4 days OBS is truly an international market place as buyers who come to sales represent 38 different countries and 49 of the 50 states in the United States (US) Of those buyers 80 percent () come from out of town which means they come to our community This is only 1 fraction of the horse industry there are multiple disciplines and breeds Bruce Borders Branford North Florida Farm Association Board of Directors stated he drove 100 miles one way to get here today just to say No Build He advised that Borders Farm on his mothers side goes back 8 generations noting all he knows is farming and landscaping Mr Borders stated American family farms are endangered species Commissioner Gold returned at 341 pm Ann Broken NW 114th Loop advised from her seat in the audience that her comments have already been stated Judy Etzler NW 219th Street Road Micanopy presented a 4 page handout which she read into the record expressing her objection to the Coastal Connector David Tillman SE 16th Avenue spoke in support of a route through Marion County He opined that there is a lot of economic opportunity for having this route come through the county but he does not feel that FDOT has performed its due diligence in a proper way
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to find a route that can meet all the needs Mr Tillman stated FDOT needs to be sent back to the drawing board to find a better route and impacts fewer people Elaine Vinson West Highway 326 stated the propose route will supposedly take 500 feet off the front of her property She commented on having the soil in Marion County for raising horses which is something that should be considered Tony Beresford NW 90th Avenue commented on the process that seems to go back to 1980 when there was talk of building a road not necessarily a toll road between Tampa and Jacksonville which is the directive that was given to the consultants He opined that the Governor needs to step in and stop this connector Linda Pizzonia West Highway 326 advised that the Coastal Connector greatly affects their business farm and way of life She opined that the connector will ruin Marion County Louise Coates NW 90th Avenue presented 2 Google Earth Maps noting she spent some time on the Internet looking west of Marion County by Highway 19 where she found a possible route She stated it shows the possibility of another route that will not impact a lot of people and the horse farms In response to Chairman Bryant Ms Coates stated the maps were sent to FDOT and the BCC David MacKay Esquire SW College Road advised that he is representing Charlotte Weber owner of Live Oak Plantation noted that he submitted a letter earlier this week to Ms Bolan and Mr Cooke and copied the Board which pointed out the significant adverse impact of the proposed corridors specifically Alternatives C2 and D1 to the farm The 2 corridors will bisect the farm from one end to the other Additional support statistics as to the large economic impact that particular farm has in Marion County were also provided however it is only 1 farm in the agricultural industry of the county Where the routes come together on Highway 27 from there north basically splits CR 225 and CR 225-A which is a strategic part of the equine industry in Marion County The Coastal Connector will have a huge impact with respect to agricultural enterprise no matter where someone is located in Marion County Agricultural operations are not as easily relocated as some may think He advised that he looked over the 1-75 Relief Task Force Summary Report which concluded with this study started Mr MacKay expressed concern that Marion County is not mentioned anywhere in the report He opined that it behooves the county to appoint a point person in the system to be on top of this going forward Matt Varney NW 90th Avenue Ocala Horse Properties advised that he has 2 questions for the Board to ask FDOT and 1 complaint Have the members of FDOT in attendance been to Ocala before today If so have they had the chance to drive these proposed routes and what did they think He noted he keeps hearing this is very early in the study and these are just lines on a map however the reality is that these lines have put into question any perspective sale within one-half mile of these routes He noted many people in the attendance today have either bought or sold farms from him or his company and asked the Board to put themselves in the eyes of a future buyer right now Would any Commissioner buy in the wake of these routes with what is known at this time Mr Varney stated the study should be stopped Karin Lunau NW 100th Street and NW 35th Lane Road was not present when called up to speak Chairman Bryant read her comments on the sign-up card into the record Northern segment options both would bring more traffic to the most congested segment of 1-75 301 and 441 cannot accommodate more traffic I suggest a third northsouth corridor from Tampa to Highway 10 (EastWest)
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Tom Grabe advised that he owns 3 properties in northwest Marion County NW 80th Avenue (business address) NW 78th Court (residence) and NW 42nd Street (70 acre) that he recently purchased for his future home but maybe not now He addressed earlier comments by Ms Bolan in regard to planning for the future and questioned what residents are supposed to do while FDOT is planning for the future Mr Grabe stated he has plans for a home a barn and farm that is now on hold He advised that he has stopped his architect since he cannot plan for the future now and they are telling him that he may have an answer in 27 years Mr Grabe noted that Ms Bolan stated the PDampE for the initial part of this took 4 years but he noticed this has taken 2 years He inquired as to how he will sell his property now that one of the routes traverses his entire piece of property and the other 2 properties fall within one-quarter mile of the line on NW 90th Mr Grabe commented on refining the routes since they are not set in stone and questioned how they will refine routes they do not have He questioned whether Marion County wants to be a destination or a pit stop between Tampa and Jacksonville Chairman Bryant advised that public comment is now closed
There was a recess at 401 pm The meeting resumed at 405 pm with all members present except Commissioner Zalak
BOARD DISCUSSION Chairman Bryant stated FDOT will now address questions posed noting Commissioners may also have a few more questions She noted that Ms Hunt asked why the choke point of Highway 27 and NW 90th Avenue were chosen Commissioner Zalak returned at 406 pm Mr Schnell stated the area of Highway 27 was initially chosen because of the traffic both existing and future He noted this is very preliminary and can be moved in another direction Chairman Bryant inquired if someone gave them direction to use Highway 27 or if it was based solely on traffic Mr Schnell advised that it was solely based on traffic Chairman Bryant referred to an article in the Ocala Star Banner newspaper dated October 14 2017 that stated input was received from local representatives and inquired as to who those representatives were Ms Bolan stated they met with some of the staff from Marion and Citrus counties as well as the cities of Crystal River Dunnellon and Inverness She clarified that they also received input from the public at their meetings Chairman Bryant noted Ms Hunt also questioned whether any routes were chosen to support any economic development projects occurring in Marion County at this time Ms Bolan stated they are not aware of doing that however they do look at the land use and maybe knowing some developments are coming which are considerations but there is not one in particular as they have no special interest in this noting it is a transportation project to try and plan for the future infrastructure needed in the area Chairman Bryant noted one other question was whether FDOT knows what the reasons were for being told to stay away from SR 200 and Highway 41 Mr Schnell stated if he recalls correctly he believes SR 200 was because of some environmental features along that area approaching the Withlacoochee River and concern with Highway 41 going through the City of Dunnellon Commissioner Zalak expressed his appreciation for FDOT for taking the time to be here today and advised that his request is to stop the routes as it really puts a choke hold on the equine industry at this point He understands that FDOT will always be studying
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routes The county is always trying to figure out how to move people around in the most efficient and effective manner which is what FDOT is trying to do Commissioner Zalak spoke to the uniqueness of Marion County and the equine industry and expressed his hopes that FDOT will take that into consideration He stated if the route has to go through Marion County he would like to sit down and find the best route for the county that does not impact the horse farms Commissioner Zalak stated there may be some existing corridors with better options and requested that these options be taken off the table Mr Cooke stated they would love to work with staff and the commission to perhaps come up with another corridor that is different than what is seen today Commissioner Moore commented on growing up in Crystal River and encouraged FDOT to look at Highway 19 He noted Levy and Alachua counties have said no and it is not right that Marion County should have a problem because those 2 counties said no The most logical route was what they had in the 1980 where the route ran up into Levy County and either at Trenton or Lebanon Station it cut over Commissioner Moore recommended FDOT revisit some of the logical routes rather than going through the heart of horse country He noted another route takes you over to the east and runs up through publicly owned lands however there are some environmental considerations Commissioner Gold advised that he pulled the maps for Highway 19 and asked if FDOT has looked at that route Ms Bolan stated Highway 19 is a longer route and is a little counterintuitive if you are trying to go from Tampa to Jacksonville She advised that the Hurricane Evacuation Committee with the Legislature had asked to look at noting there was going to be a study looking straight up Highway 19 or north up to 1-10 but that was recently vetoed so that study stopped FDOT can take these things into consideration Commissioner Gold urged FDOT to look at Highway 19 noting there is a slight shift to the west but it is not as significant as he originally thought Mr Cooke opined that is possible and noted it was something that had also been mentioned in a lot of comments Commissioner Stone expressed her appreciation to FDOTs flexibility and conversation she had with Mr Cooke prior to this workshop which gave her some ease knowing that they are here to listen and believes they are hearing the comments loud and clear She inquired as to how they refine what you do not have since these are non-committed lines drawn on the maps Mr Cooke commented on adjusting the corridors maybe east or west of where they are today in the general area of where they are He noted that a lot of speakers today are certainly not in favor of that at all but that was the refinement looking at an existing corridor and perhaps shifting it 500 feet 1000 feet or one-quarter mile one way or the other Mr Cooke advised that they hear what is being said they are listening and will look at alternatives He stated they will work with staff to hopefully come up with a solution that is workable for everyone Henry Pinzon Turnpike Environmental Management Engineer stated what is seen here is very important and expressed his appreciation for input from the Board and public today He stated he hears the concern with the corridors today and advised that they are going back to the drawing table to come with new ideas The plan is to meet with county staff as well as city staff to come up with a better solution Commissioner Stone stated the input from staff will come from the BCC She advised that her direction to staff is that these routes cannot be considered at all period The 500 foot and 300 foot variances will not work for this refinement means she wants them totally erased
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Mr Schell advised that they are in agreement with that noting it is not just refinement it is elimination and looking at something else altogether Commissioner Stone stated elimination is a great way to reference the corridors Commissioner Zalak stated from a toll perspective he can see monetarily why a route to JacksonvilleTampa may be important from a logistical standpoint and other travelers going updown northsouth 1-75 1-95 as well as other corridors northsouth of Highway 19 He stated FDOT must have some perspective on the money to fund a toll route from Tampa to Jacksonville He inquired about a toll route that is a 3 rd corridor that runs northsouth and questioned if that has been evaluated by the Toll Commission Mr Pinzon stated they need to evaluate routes that have a good potential to be economically feasible If you look at a 100 mile route going to the north with no real road crossings it is going to be very difficult to make that road financially feasible Commissioner Moore addressed earlier comment about monorail and whether a monorail system has been considered Ms Bolan advised that as part of the 1-75 Relief Task Force there was some recommendations to look at rail studies There is currently an ongoing study that FDOT out of Tallahassee has been performing looking at some of the existing rail corridors and rail options however rail is not part of the turnpike portion of FDOT She stated they cannot speak specifically for that but there is an ongoing study and they can get the BCC in touch with those folks working on that study Commissioner Moore commented on airport hubs and questioned why something like this would not go over toward Williston where there is a regional airport and away from other areas Ms Bolan stated a lot of it is based on future traffic projections General discussion ensued
CLOSING COMMENTS Chairman Bryant thanked FDOT once again for coming here today and listening to concerns from Marion County It is very evident that residents are concerned about what is happening in their community especially the northwest and western part of the county The countys agricultural community encompasses a lot of different things as was heard today and encompasses farming the thoroughbred industry not just northwest Marion County but the entire county The routes proposed go through northwest and west Marion County both of which are represented by herself and Commissioner Stone Chairman Bryant opined that the Board is asking for elimination of all proposed routes She advised that the county has started to craft a Resolution noting copies have been provided to fellow commissioners The Resolution will likely be presented at the next BCC meeting (June 5 2018) as action cannot be taken at a workshop however general consensus can be given Chairman Bryant asked that a copy of the proposed Resolution be forwarded to FDOT so they can see what is in it which talks a lot about the impact that Coastal Connector would bring to Marion County specifically to citizens talked about today Chairman Bryant asked that FDOT take that into consideration and that they quickly come out publicly and let it be known that you are no longer considering the routes as proposed As heard today these proposed routes do affect peoples lives and plans as well as real estate sales because if you know something like this is planned in your backyard you have to disclose that information to a prospective buyer which is a valid point This also makes a difference as far as people investing more into the community Chairman Bryant spoke to fellow commissioners about the Resolution that was handed out to each of them and asked that they look it over She stated if a commissioner would
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like to have anything added before the next meeting on June 5 2018 to contact the County Attorney and asked if there are any questions or suggestions at this time Chairman Bryant advised that if she has Board consensus the Resolution will be on the next BCC Agenda It was the general consensus of the Board to agree to placing the Resolution on the June 5 2018 BCC Agenda Commissioner Stone advised that she has already provided input to Mr Minter Chairman Bryant asked that FDOT go back to what the 1-75 Relief Task Force was talking about noting there was a route in the recommendation that made a lot of sense and did not impact folks like it does Marion County now Chairman Bryant reiterated her thanks to FDOT for coming out today and listening noting the Boards job is not always easy and today FDOTs job is not easy She voiced her hope that those in the audience will thank FDOT for coming and participating today Commissioner Gold advised that the Resolution includes a request to the Governor Commissioner Stone thanked FDOT for its flexibility and hearing the county She stated she looks forward to FDOTs formal elimination of these routes
It was noted for the record that the Deputy Clerk received a 4 page brochure regarding the Coastal Connector from County Engineer Tracy Straub OCE a 3 page document from Calvin amp Lynda Miller a large map from John Rudinanyn and a 15 page document from Judy Greenberg
There being no further business to come before the Board the meeting thereupon adjourned at 426 pm
athy B nt Chairman
Attest
David R Ellsp mann Clerk
Book X Page 1043
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Joan Pletcher S Highway 475 advised that she represents landowners people she has sold land to who all came to Marion County because of the beautiful land peace and quiet She opined that FDOT BCC and Secretary of State need to recognize what our horse industry and agriculture bring to the State of Florida She urged the Board to vote against the Coastal Connector and ask FDOT to find another place Henry J Munoz Marion Oaks Boulevard commented on the toll road which puts it under the Toll Commission Authority not FDOT and questioned who will have oversight He further questioned why the proposal is to go from Tampa to Jacksonville rather than going north Mr Munoz asked what happened to rail and commented on eminent domain He stated now is the time to expand 1-75 Commissioner Gold left his seat at 319 pm but did not leave the auditorium Amy Agricola West Anthony Road advised that her property is not on the map but she is here to support the entire community of Marion County noting she has a few questions that were raised during the presentation She inquired as to who asked that Highway 41 and SR 200 not be looked at because it did not come from the public Ms Agricola stated she does not understand why we are looking at this when we could be looking at different things such as rail monorails or public transportation noting this is outdated technology She asked that the county be formally withdrawn from this study to save taxpayer dollars Lonny Powell Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Florida Thoroughbred Breeders and Owners Association (FTBOA) SW 60th Avenue noted he is also a resident of Dunnellon Commissioner Gold returned to his seat at 321 pm He stated the Boards discussion at their meeting on Tuesday (May 15 2018) to adopt a Resolution opposing the Coastal Connector is the appropriate action noting residents are also counting on our Senators Representatives Governors Office and Gubernatorial Candidates to also show the same courage as the BCC Mr Powell advised that on May 14 2018 a letter was sent to FDOT and the Board stating their position Janet Barrow SW 164th Avenue Road Dunnellon opined that the State of Florida needs to redefine what progress is because building more roads to accommodate more people will eventually not work She stated the studies are flawed and commented on Alternative C2 which crosses the gas pipeline over a sinkhole that was filled in with dirt and was described in FDOTs Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) as a shallow depression Ms Barrow noted she is watching what the state and federal government and local officials are doing She expressed her support for No Build Brian Donnelly West Anthony Road stated it is important for FDOT to understand why the Coastal Connector is not for Marion County it does not fit with the goals and objectives of the Master Plan He noted the county did as FDOT directed by improving existing roads before building new ones Mr Donnelly stated it is important to understand why Levy and Alachua countys said no to this proposal He presented a 5 page handout which includes a 2 page proposed letter from Alachua County a 2 page letter from Levy County Commissioners and a colored Map 1 Marion County 2035 Future Land Use Map (FLUM) Mr Donnelly stated as long as this proposal is on the table the community is an unstable place from a business perspective as no one likes to invest in uncertainty or purchase property when they do not know if their property will be part of an exit a turnpike pipeline or service plaza This is not just about a road it is about a taking of a ROW to allow anything to happen He urged the Board to stay the course and follow the adopted plans to protect the countys heritage and future Charles Lee Director of Advocacy Audobon Florida Audobon Way Maitland and member of the 1-75 Relief Task Force asked the Board to pass a Resolution pointedly
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requesting Governor Rick Scott to direct that the Executive Director of FTE discontinue this study This study should go no further and it is important to understand the costs of simply dependency of this study remaining in place the cost of tax dollars to conduct the study but more importantly are the costs to the lives of the people who are being disrupted because the study is in progress He stated it is important to note that throughout the presentation the 2 brief mentions given by the turnpike group here today did not tell you that the recommendation by the Task Force was not to do what they are currently doing Lura Bergh NW 90th Avenue Reddick stated this is a poorly planned area that FDOT decided to put the Coastal Connector through She commented on connecting on 1-10 would be a much better route Annette Plouffe SW 140th Avenue Dunnellon advised from her seat in the audience that her comments have all been stated Commissioner Gold out at 331 pm Douglas Shearer SE 85th Street commented on the future driverless vehicles and suggested making 1-75 a partial toll road for trucks and charge more for trucks using the road during the day He stated there are a lot of ways to relieve 1-75 noting a path from Tampa to Jacksonville can be made Michelle Shearer SE 85th Street stated the county should not waste any more time on this and urged the Board to tell Governor Scott not in Marion County Tami Bobo NW 90th Avenue presented a 1 page handout which she read into the record Todd Wojciehowski SE 32nd Avenue Ocala Breeders Sales Company (OBS) SW 60th Avenue stated this project has the potential to dramatically change the landscape of Marion County He commented on the economic impacts as it applies to OBS OBS is a thoroughbred auction company and feed mill that has been in business in Marion County for 40 years It is the center of commerce for the thoroughbred race horse industry as well as the marketing segment and tool for the State of Florida He advised that the numbers he is about to give are real not projections Since 2010 OBS has sold nearly 22000 horses for over $1000000000 with the vast majority of these horses either being raised or receiving their early training in Marion County the recently concluded OBS April sale generated a record $69000000 in sales in 4 days OBS is truly an international market place as buyers who come to sales represent 38 different countries and 49 of the 50 states in the United States (US) Of those buyers 80 percent () come from out of town which means they come to our community This is only 1 fraction of the horse industry there are multiple disciplines and breeds Bruce Borders Branford North Florida Farm Association Board of Directors stated he drove 100 miles one way to get here today just to say No Build He advised that Borders Farm on his mothers side goes back 8 generations noting all he knows is farming and landscaping Mr Borders stated American family farms are endangered species Commissioner Gold returned at 341 pm Ann Broken NW 114th Loop advised from her seat in the audience that her comments have already been stated Judy Etzler NW 219th Street Road Micanopy presented a 4 page handout which she read into the record expressing her objection to the Coastal Connector David Tillman SE 16th Avenue spoke in support of a route through Marion County He opined that there is a lot of economic opportunity for having this route come through the county but he does not feel that FDOT has performed its due diligence in a proper way
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to find a route that can meet all the needs Mr Tillman stated FDOT needs to be sent back to the drawing board to find a better route and impacts fewer people Elaine Vinson West Highway 326 stated the propose route will supposedly take 500 feet off the front of her property She commented on having the soil in Marion County for raising horses which is something that should be considered Tony Beresford NW 90th Avenue commented on the process that seems to go back to 1980 when there was talk of building a road not necessarily a toll road between Tampa and Jacksonville which is the directive that was given to the consultants He opined that the Governor needs to step in and stop this connector Linda Pizzonia West Highway 326 advised that the Coastal Connector greatly affects their business farm and way of life She opined that the connector will ruin Marion County Louise Coates NW 90th Avenue presented 2 Google Earth Maps noting she spent some time on the Internet looking west of Marion County by Highway 19 where she found a possible route She stated it shows the possibility of another route that will not impact a lot of people and the horse farms In response to Chairman Bryant Ms Coates stated the maps were sent to FDOT and the BCC David MacKay Esquire SW College Road advised that he is representing Charlotte Weber owner of Live Oak Plantation noted that he submitted a letter earlier this week to Ms Bolan and Mr Cooke and copied the Board which pointed out the significant adverse impact of the proposed corridors specifically Alternatives C2 and D1 to the farm The 2 corridors will bisect the farm from one end to the other Additional support statistics as to the large economic impact that particular farm has in Marion County were also provided however it is only 1 farm in the agricultural industry of the county Where the routes come together on Highway 27 from there north basically splits CR 225 and CR 225-A which is a strategic part of the equine industry in Marion County The Coastal Connector will have a huge impact with respect to agricultural enterprise no matter where someone is located in Marion County Agricultural operations are not as easily relocated as some may think He advised that he looked over the 1-75 Relief Task Force Summary Report which concluded with this study started Mr MacKay expressed concern that Marion County is not mentioned anywhere in the report He opined that it behooves the county to appoint a point person in the system to be on top of this going forward Matt Varney NW 90th Avenue Ocala Horse Properties advised that he has 2 questions for the Board to ask FDOT and 1 complaint Have the members of FDOT in attendance been to Ocala before today If so have they had the chance to drive these proposed routes and what did they think He noted he keeps hearing this is very early in the study and these are just lines on a map however the reality is that these lines have put into question any perspective sale within one-half mile of these routes He noted many people in the attendance today have either bought or sold farms from him or his company and asked the Board to put themselves in the eyes of a future buyer right now Would any Commissioner buy in the wake of these routes with what is known at this time Mr Varney stated the study should be stopped Karin Lunau NW 100th Street and NW 35th Lane Road was not present when called up to speak Chairman Bryant read her comments on the sign-up card into the record Northern segment options both would bring more traffic to the most congested segment of 1-75 301 and 441 cannot accommodate more traffic I suggest a third northsouth corridor from Tampa to Highway 10 (EastWest)
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Tom Grabe advised that he owns 3 properties in northwest Marion County NW 80th Avenue (business address) NW 78th Court (residence) and NW 42nd Street (70 acre) that he recently purchased for his future home but maybe not now He addressed earlier comments by Ms Bolan in regard to planning for the future and questioned what residents are supposed to do while FDOT is planning for the future Mr Grabe stated he has plans for a home a barn and farm that is now on hold He advised that he has stopped his architect since he cannot plan for the future now and they are telling him that he may have an answer in 27 years Mr Grabe noted that Ms Bolan stated the PDampE for the initial part of this took 4 years but he noticed this has taken 2 years He inquired as to how he will sell his property now that one of the routes traverses his entire piece of property and the other 2 properties fall within one-quarter mile of the line on NW 90th Mr Grabe commented on refining the routes since they are not set in stone and questioned how they will refine routes they do not have He questioned whether Marion County wants to be a destination or a pit stop between Tampa and Jacksonville Chairman Bryant advised that public comment is now closed
There was a recess at 401 pm The meeting resumed at 405 pm with all members present except Commissioner Zalak
BOARD DISCUSSION Chairman Bryant stated FDOT will now address questions posed noting Commissioners may also have a few more questions She noted that Ms Hunt asked why the choke point of Highway 27 and NW 90th Avenue were chosen Commissioner Zalak returned at 406 pm Mr Schnell stated the area of Highway 27 was initially chosen because of the traffic both existing and future He noted this is very preliminary and can be moved in another direction Chairman Bryant inquired if someone gave them direction to use Highway 27 or if it was based solely on traffic Mr Schnell advised that it was solely based on traffic Chairman Bryant referred to an article in the Ocala Star Banner newspaper dated October 14 2017 that stated input was received from local representatives and inquired as to who those representatives were Ms Bolan stated they met with some of the staff from Marion and Citrus counties as well as the cities of Crystal River Dunnellon and Inverness She clarified that they also received input from the public at their meetings Chairman Bryant noted Ms Hunt also questioned whether any routes were chosen to support any economic development projects occurring in Marion County at this time Ms Bolan stated they are not aware of doing that however they do look at the land use and maybe knowing some developments are coming which are considerations but there is not one in particular as they have no special interest in this noting it is a transportation project to try and plan for the future infrastructure needed in the area Chairman Bryant noted one other question was whether FDOT knows what the reasons were for being told to stay away from SR 200 and Highway 41 Mr Schnell stated if he recalls correctly he believes SR 200 was because of some environmental features along that area approaching the Withlacoochee River and concern with Highway 41 going through the City of Dunnellon Commissioner Zalak expressed his appreciation for FDOT for taking the time to be here today and advised that his request is to stop the routes as it really puts a choke hold on the equine industry at this point He understands that FDOT will always be studying
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routes The county is always trying to figure out how to move people around in the most efficient and effective manner which is what FDOT is trying to do Commissioner Zalak spoke to the uniqueness of Marion County and the equine industry and expressed his hopes that FDOT will take that into consideration He stated if the route has to go through Marion County he would like to sit down and find the best route for the county that does not impact the horse farms Commissioner Zalak stated there may be some existing corridors with better options and requested that these options be taken off the table Mr Cooke stated they would love to work with staff and the commission to perhaps come up with another corridor that is different than what is seen today Commissioner Moore commented on growing up in Crystal River and encouraged FDOT to look at Highway 19 He noted Levy and Alachua counties have said no and it is not right that Marion County should have a problem because those 2 counties said no The most logical route was what they had in the 1980 where the route ran up into Levy County and either at Trenton or Lebanon Station it cut over Commissioner Moore recommended FDOT revisit some of the logical routes rather than going through the heart of horse country He noted another route takes you over to the east and runs up through publicly owned lands however there are some environmental considerations Commissioner Gold advised that he pulled the maps for Highway 19 and asked if FDOT has looked at that route Ms Bolan stated Highway 19 is a longer route and is a little counterintuitive if you are trying to go from Tampa to Jacksonville She advised that the Hurricane Evacuation Committee with the Legislature had asked to look at noting there was going to be a study looking straight up Highway 19 or north up to 1-10 but that was recently vetoed so that study stopped FDOT can take these things into consideration Commissioner Gold urged FDOT to look at Highway 19 noting there is a slight shift to the west but it is not as significant as he originally thought Mr Cooke opined that is possible and noted it was something that had also been mentioned in a lot of comments Commissioner Stone expressed her appreciation to FDOTs flexibility and conversation she had with Mr Cooke prior to this workshop which gave her some ease knowing that they are here to listen and believes they are hearing the comments loud and clear She inquired as to how they refine what you do not have since these are non-committed lines drawn on the maps Mr Cooke commented on adjusting the corridors maybe east or west of where they are today in the general area of where they are He noted that a lot of speakers today are certainly not in favor of that at all but that was the refinement looking at an existing corridor and perhaps shifting it 500 feet 1000 feet or one-quarter mile one way or the other Mr Cooke advised that they hear what is being said they are listening and will look at alternatives He stated they will work with staff to hopefully come up with a solution that is workable for everyone Henry Pinzon Turnpike Environmental Management Engineer stated what is seen here is very important and expressed his appreciation for input from the Board and public today He stated he hears the concern with the corridors today and advised that they are going back to the drawing table to come with new ideas The plan is to meet with county staff as well as city staff to come up with a better solution Commissioner Stone stated the input from staff will come from the BCC She advised that her direction to staff is that these routes cannot be considered at all period The 500 foot and 300 foot variances will not work for this refinement means she wants them totally erased
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Mr Schell advised that they are in agreement with that noting it is not just refinement it is elimination and looking at something else altogether Commissioner Stone stated elimination is a great way to reference the corridors Commissioner Zalak stated from a toll perspective he can see monetarily why a route to JacksonvilleTampa may be important from a logistical standpoint and other travelers going updown northsouth 1-75 1-95 as well as other corridors northsouth of Highway 19 He stated FDOT must have some perspective on the money to fund a toll route from Tampa to Jacksonville He inquired about a toll route that is a 3 rd corridor that runs northsouth and questioned if that has been evaluated by the Toll Commission Mr Pinzon stated they need to evaluate routes that have a good potential to be economically feasible If you look at a 100 mile route going to the north with no real road crossings it is going to be very difficult to make that road financially feasible Commissioner Moore addressed earlier comment about monorail and whether a monorail system has been considered Ms Bolan advised that as part of the 1-75 Relief Task Force there was some recommendations to look at rail studies There is currently an ongoing study that FDOT out of Tallahassee has been performing looking at some of the existing rail corridors and rail options however rail is not part of the turnpike portion of FDOT She stated they cannot speak specifically for that but there is an ongoing study and they can get the BCC in touch with those folks working on that study Commissioner Moore commented on airport hubs and questioned why something like this would not go over toward Williston where there is a regional airport and away from other areas Ms Bolan stated a lot of it is based on future traffic projections General discussion ensued
CLOSING COMMENTS Chairman Bryant thanked FDOT once again for coming here today and listening to concerns from Marion County It is very evident that residents are concerned about what is happening in their community especially the northwest and western part of the county The countys agricultural community encompasses a lot of different things as was heard today and encompasses farming the thoroughbred industry not just northwest Marion County but the entire county The routes proposed go through northwest and west Marion County both of which are represented by herself and Commissioner Stone Chairman Bryant opined that the Board is asking for elimination of all proposed routes She advised that the county has started to craft a Resolution noting copies have been provided to fellow commissioners The Resolution will likely be presented at the next BCC meeting (June 5 2018) as action cannot be taken at a workshop however general consensus can be given Chairman Bryant asked that a copy of the proposed Resolution be forwarded to FDOT so they can see what is in it which talks a lot about the impact that Coastal Connector would bring to Marion County specifically to citizens talked about today Chairman Bryant asked that FDOT take that into consideration and that they quickly come out publicly and let it be known that you are no longer considering the routes as proposed As heard today these proposed routes do affect peoples lives and plans as well as real estate sales because if you know something like this is planned in your backyard you have to disclose that information to a prospective buyer which is a valid point This also makes a difference as far as people investing more into the community Chairman Bryant spoke to fellow commissioners about the Resolution that was handed out to each of them and asked that they look it over She stated if a commissioner would
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like to have anything added before the next meeting on June 5 2018 to contact the County Attorney and asked if there are any questions or suggestions at this time Chairman Bryant advised that if she has Board consensus the Resolution will be on the next BCC Agenda It was the general consensus of the Board to agree to placing the Resolution on the June 5 2018 BCC Agenda Commissioner Stone advised that she has already provided input to Mr Minter Chairman Bryant asked that FDOT go back to what the 1-75 Relief Task Force was talking about noting there was a route in the recommendation that made a lot of sense and did not impact folks like it does Marion County now Chairman Bryant reiterated her thanks to FDOT for coming out today and listening noting the Boards job is not always easy and today FDOTs job is not easy She voiced her hope that those in the audience will thank FDOT for coming and participating today Commissioner Gold advised that the Resolution includes a request to the Governor Commissioner Stone thanked FDOT for its flexibility and hearing the county She stated she looks forward to FDOTs formal elimination of these routes
It was noted for the record that the Deputy Clerk received a 4 page brochure regarding the Coastal Connector from County Engineer Tracy Straub OCE a 3 page document from Calvin amp Lynda Miller a large map from John Rudinanyn and a 15 page document from Judy Greenberg
There being no further business to come before the Board the meeting thereupon adjourned at 426 pm
athy B nt Chairman
Attest
David R Ellsp mann Clerk
Book X Page 1043
May 18 2018
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May 18 2018
requesting Governor Rick Scott to direct that the Executive Director of FTE discontinue this study This study should go no further and it is important to understand the costs of simply dependency of this study remaining in place the cost of tax dollars to conduct the study but more importantly are the costs to the lives of the people who are being disrupted because the study is in progress He stated it is important to note that throughout the presentation the 2 brief mentions given by the turnpike group here today did not tell you that the recommendation by the Task Force was not to do what they are currently doing Lura Bergh NW 90th Avenue Reddick stated this is a poorly planned area that FDOT decided to put the Coastal Connector through She commented on connecting on 1-10 would be a much better route Annette Plouffe SW 140th Avenue Dunnellon advised from her seat in the audience that her comments have all been stated Commissioner Gold out at 331 pm Douglas Shearer SE 85th Street commented on the future driverless vehicles and suggested making 1-75 a partial toll road for trucks and charge more for trucks using the road during the day He stated there are a lot of ways to relieve 1-75 noting a path from Tampa to Jacksonville can be made Michelle Shearer SE 85th Street stated the county should not waste any more time on this and urged the Board to tell Governor Scott not in Marion County Tami Bobo NW 90th Avenue presented a 1 page handout which she read into the record Todd Wojciehowski SE 32nd Avenue Ocala Breeders Sales Company (OBS) SW 60th Avenue stated this project has the potential to dramatically change the landscape of Marion County He commented on the economic impacts as it applies to OBS OBS is a thoroughbred auction company and feed mill that has been in business in Marion County for 40 years It is the center of commerce for the thoroughbred race horse industry as well as the marketing segment and tool for the State of Florida He advised that the numbers he is about to give are real not projections Since 2010 OBS has sold nearly 22000 horses for over $1000000000 with the vast majority of these horses either being raised or receiving their early training in Marion County the recently concluded OBS April sale generated a record $69000000 in sales in 4 days OBS is truly an international market place as buyers who come to sales represent 38 different countries and 49 of the 50 states in the United States (US) Of those buyers 80 percent () come from out of town which means they come to our community This is only 1 fraction of the horse industry there are multiple disciplines and breeds Bruce Borders Branford North Florida Farm Association Board of Directors stated he drove 100 miles one way to get here today just to say No Build He advised that Borders Farm on his mothers side goes back 8 generations noting all he knows is farming and landscaping Mr Borders stated American family farms are endangered species Commissioner Gold returned at 341 pm Ann Broken NW 114th Loop advised from her seat in the audience that her comments have already been stated Judy Etzler NW 219th Street Road Micanopy presented a 4 page handout which she read into the record expressing her objection to the Coastal Connector David Tillman SE 16th Avenue spoke in support of a route through Marion County He opined that there is a lot of economic opportunity for having this route come through the county but he does not feel that FDOT has performed its due diligence in a proper way
Page 1038 Book X
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to find a route that can meet all the needs Mr Tillman stated FDOT needs to be sent back to the drawing board to find a better route and impacts fewer people Elaine Vinson West Highway 326 stated the propose route will supposedly take 500 feet off the front of her property She commented on having the soil in Marion County for raising horses which is something that should be considered Tony Beresford NW 90th Avenue commented on the process that seems to go back to 1980 when there was talk of building a road not necessarily a toll road between Tampa and Jacksonville which is the directive that was given to the consultants He opined that the Governor needs to step in and stop this connector Linda Pizzonia West Highway 326 advised that the Coastal Connector greatly affects their business farm and way of life She opined that the connector will ruin Marion County Louise Coates NW 90th Avenue presented 2 Google Earth Maps noting she spent some time on the Internet looking west of Marion County by Highway 19 where she found a possible route She stated it shows the possibility of another route that will not impact a lot of people and the horse farms In response to Chairman Bryant Ms Coates stated the maps were sent to FDOT and the BCC David MacKay Esquire SW College Road advised that he is representing Charlotte Weber owner of Live Oak Plantation noted that he submitted a letter earlier this week to Ms Bolan and Mr Cooke and copied the Board which pointed out the significant adverse impact of the proposed corridors specifically Alternatives C2 and D1 to the farm The 2 corridors will bisect the farm from one end to the other Additional support statistics as to the large economic impact that particular farm has in Marion County were also provided however it is only 1 farm in the agricultural industry of the county Where the routes come together on Highway 27 from there north basically splits CR 225 and CR 225-A which is a strategic part of the equine industry in Marion County The Coastal Connector will have a huge impact with respect to agricultural enterprise no matter where someone is located in Marion County Agricultural operations are not as easily relocated as some may think He advised that he looked over the 1-75 Relief Task Force Summary Report which concluded with this study started Mr MacKay expressed concern that Marion County is not mentioned anywhere in the report He opined that it behooves the county to appoint a point person in the system to be on top of this going forward Matt Varney NW 90th Avenue Ocala Horse Properties advised that he has 2 questions for the Board to ask FDOT and 1 complaint Have the members of FDOT in attendance been to Ocala before today If so have they had the chance to drive these proposed routes and what did they think He noted he keeps hearing this is very early in the study and these are just lines on a map however the reality is that these lines have put into question any perspective sale within one-half mile of these routes He noted many people in the attendance today have either bought or sold farms from him or his company and asked the Board to put themselves in the eyes of a future buyer right now Would any Commissioner buy in the wake of these routes with what is known at this time Mr Varney stated the study should be stopped Karin Lunau NW 100th Street and NW 35th Lane Road was not present when called up to speak Chairman Bryant read her comments on the sign-up card into the record Northern segment options both would bring more traffic to the most congested segment of 1-75 301 and 441 cannot accommodate more traffic I suggest a third northsouth corridor from Tampa to Highway 10 (EastWest)
Book X Page 1039
May 18 2018
Tom Grabe advised that he owns 3 properties in northwest Marion County NW 80th Avenue (business address) NW 78th Court (residence) and NW 42nd Street (70 acre) that he recently purchased for his future home but maybe not now He addressed earlier comments by Ms Bolan in regard to planning for the future and questioned what residents are supposed to do while FDOT is planning for the future Mr Grabe stated he has plans for a home a barn and farm that is now on hold He advised that he has stopped his architect since he cannot plan for the future now and they are telling him that he may have an answer in 27 years Mr Grabe noted that Ms Bolan stated the PDampE for the initial part of this took 4 years but he noticed this has taken 2 years He inquired as to how he will sell his property now that one of the routes traverses his entire piece of property and the other 2 properties fall within one-quarter mile of the line on NW 90th Mr Grabe commented on refining the routes since they are not set in stone and questioned how they will refine routes they do not have He questioned whether Marion County wants to be a destination or a pit stop between Tampa and Jacksonville Chairman Bryant advised that public comment is now closed
There was a recess at 401 pm The meeting resumed at 405 pm with all members present except Commissioner Zalak
BOARD DISCUSSION Chairman Bryant stated FDOT will now address questions posed noting Commissioners may also have a few more questions She noted that Ms Hunt asked why the choke point of Highway 27 and NW 90th Avenue were chosen Commissioner Zalak returned at 406 pm Mr Schnell stated the area of Highway 27 was initially chosen because of the traffic both existing and future He noted this is very preliminary and can be moved in another direction Chairman Bryant inquired if someone gave them direction to use Highway 27 or if it was based solely on traffic Mr Schnell advised that it was solely based on traffic Chairman Bryant referred to an article in the Ocala Star Banner newspaper dated October 14 2017 that stated input was received from local representatives and inquired as to who those representatives were Ms Bolan stated they met with some of the staff from Marion and Citrus counties as well as the cities of Crystal River Dunnellon and Inverness She clarified that they also received input from the public at their meetings Chairman Bryant noted Ms Hunt also questioned whether any routes were chosen to support any economic development projects occurring in Marion County at this time Ms Bolan stated they are not aware of doing that however they do look at the land use and maybe knowing some developments are coming which are considerations but there is not one in particular as they have no special interest in this noting it is a transportation project to try and plan for the future infrastructure needed in the area Chairman Bryant noted one other question was whether FDOT knows what the reasons were for being told to stay away from SR 200 and Highway 41 Mr Schnell stated if he recalls correctly he believes SR 200 was because of some environmental features along that area approaching the Withlacoochee River and concern with Highway 41 going through the City of Dunnellon Commissioner Zalak expressed his appreciation for FDOT for taking the time to be here today and advised that his request is to stop the routes as it really puts a choke hold on the equine industry at this point He understands that FDOT will always be studying
Page 1040 Book X
May 18 2018
routes The county is always trying to figure out how to move people around in the most efficient and effective manner which is what FDOT is trying to do Commissioner Zalak spoke to the uniqueness of Marion County and the equine industry and expressed his hopes that FDOT will take that into consideration He stated if the route has to go through Marion County he would like to sit down and find the best route for the county that does not impact the horse farms Commissioner Zalak stated there may be some existing corridors with better options and requested that these options be taken off the table Mr Cooke stated they would love to work with staff and the commission to perhaps come up with another corridor that is different than what is seen today Commissioner Moore commented on growing up in Crystal River and encouraged FDOT to look at Highway 19 He noted Levy and Alachua counties have said no and it is not right that Marion County should have a problem because those 2 counties said no The most logical route was what they had in the 1980 where the route ran up into Levy County and either at Trenton or Lebanon Station it cut over Commissioner Moore recommended FDOT revisit some of the logical routes rather than going through the heart of horse country He noted another route takes you over to the east and runs up through publicly owned lands however there are some environmental considerations Commissioner Gold advised that he pulled the maps for Highway 19 and asked if FDOT has looked at that route Ms Bolan stated Highway 19 is a longer route and is a little counterintuitive if you are trying to go from Tampa to Jacksonville She advised that the Hurricane Evacuation Committee with the Legislature had asked to look at noting there was going to be a study looking straight up Highway 19 or north up to 1-10 but that was recently vetoed so that study stopped FDOT can take these things into consideration Commissioner Gold urged FDOT to look at Highway 19 noting there is a slight shift to the west but it is not as significant as he originally thought Mr Cooke opined that is possible and noted it was something that had also been mentioned in a lot of comments Commissioner Stone expressed her appreciation to FDOTs flexibility and conversation she had with Mr Cooke prior to this workshop which gave her some ease knowing that they are here to listen and believes they are hearing the comments loud and clear She inquired as to how they refine what you do not have since these are non-committed lines drawn on the maps Mr Cooke commented on adjusting the corridors maybe east or west of where they are today in the general area of where they are He noted that a lot of speakers today are certainly not in favor of that at all but that was the refinement looking at an existing corridor and perhaps shifting it 500 feet 1000 feet or one-quarter mile one way or the other Mr Cooke advised that they hear what is being said they are listening and will look at alternatives He stated they will work with staff to hopefully come up with a solution that is workable for everyone Henry Pinzon Turnpike Environmental Management Engineer stated what is seen here is very important and expressed his appreciation for input from the Board and public today He stated he hears the concern with the corridors today and advised that they are going back to the drawing table to come with new ideas The plan is to meet with county staff as well as city staff to come up with a better solution Commissioner Stone stated the input from staff will come from the BCC She advised that her direction to staff is that these routes cannot be considered at all period The 500 foot and 300 foot variances will not work for this refinement means she wants them totally erased
Book X Page 1041
May 18 2018
Mr Schell advised that they are in agreement with that noting it is not just refinement it is elimination and looking at something else altogether Commissioner Stone stated elimination is a great way to reference the corridors Commissioner Zalak stated from a toll perspective he can see monetarily why a route to JacksonvilleTampa may be important from a logistical standpoint and other travelers going updown northsouth 1-75 1-95 as well as other corridors northsouth of Highway 19 He stated FDOT must have some perspective on the money to fund a toll route from Tampa to Jacksonville He inquired about a toll route that is a 3 rd corridor that runs northsouth and questioned if that has been evaluated by the Toll Commission Mr Pinzon stated they need to evaluate routes that have a good potential to be economically feasible If you look at a 100 mile route going to the north with no real road crossings it is going to be very difficult to make that road financially feasible Commissioner Moore addressed earlier comment about monorail and whether a monorail system has been considered Ms Bolan advised that as part of the 1-75 Relief Task Force there was some recommendations to look at rail studies There is currently an ongoing study that FDOT out of Tallahassee has been performing looking at some of the existing rail corridors and rail options however rail is not part of the turnpike portion of FDOT She stated they cannot speak specifically for that but there is an ongoing study and they can get the BCC in touch with those folks working on that study Commissioner Moore commented on airport hubs and questioned why something like this would not go over toward Williston where there is a regional airport and away from other areas Ms Bolan stated a lot of it is based on future traffic projections General discussion ensued
CLOSING COMMENTS Chairman Bryant thanked FDOT once again for coming here today and listening to concerns from Marion County It is very evident that residents are concerned about what is happening in their community especially the northwest and western part of the county The countys agricultural community encompasses a lot of different things as was heard today and encompasses farming the thoroughbred industry not just northwest Marion County but the entire county The routes proposed go through northwest and west Marion County both of which are represented by herself and Commissioner Stone Chairman Bryant opined that the Board is asking for elimination of all proposed routes She advised that the county has started to craft a Resolution noting copies have been provided to fellow commissioners The Resolution will likely be presented at the next BCC meeting (June 5 2018) as action cannot be taken at a workshop however general consensus can be given Chairman Bryant asked that a copy of the proposed Resolution be forwarded to FDOT so they can see what is in it which talks a lot about the impact that Coastal Connector would bring to Marion County specifically to citizens talked about today Chairman Bryant asked that FDOT take that into consideration and that they quickly come out publicly and let it be known that you are no longer considering the routes as proposed As heard today these proposed routes do affect peoples lives and plans as well as real estate sales because if you know something like this is planned in your backyard you have to disclose that information to a prospective buyer which is a valid point This also makes a difference as far as people investing more into the community Chairman Bryant spoke to fellow commissioners about the Resolution that was handed out to each of them and asked that they look it over She stated if a commissioner would
Page 1042 Book X
May 18 2018
like to have anything added before the next meeting on June 5 2018 to contact the County Attorney and asked if there are any questions or suggestions at this time Chairman Bryant advised that if she has Board consensus the Resolution will be on the next BCC Agenda It was the general consensus of the Board to agree to placing the Resolution on the June 5 2018 BCC Agenda Commissioner Stone advised that she has already provided input to Mr Minter Chairman Bryant asked that FDOT go back to what the 1-75 Relief Task Force was talking about noting there was a route in the recommendation that made a lot of sense and did not impact folks like it does Marion County now Chairman Bryant reiterated her thanks to FDOT for coming out today and listening noting the Boards job is not always easy and today FDOTs job is not easy She voiced her hope that those in the audience will thank FDOT for coming and participating today Commissioner Gold advised that the Resolution includes a request to the Governor Commissioner Stone thanked FDOT for its flexibility and hearing the county She stated she looks forward to FDOTs formal elimination of these routes
It was noted for the record that the Deputy Clerk received a 4 page brochure regarding the Coastal Connector from County Engineer Tracy Straub OCE a 3 page document from Calvin amp Lynda Miller a large map from John Rudinanyn and a 15 page document from Judy Greenberg
There being no further business to come before the Board the meeting thereupon adjourned at 426 pm
athy B nt Chairman
Attest
David R Ellsp mann Clerk
Book X Page 1043
May 18 2018
THIS PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK
Page 1044 Book X
May 18 2018
to find a route that can meet all the needs Mr Tillman stated FDOT needs to be sent back to the drawing board to find a better route and impacts fewer people Elaine Vinson West Highway 326 stated the propose route will supposedly take 500 feet off the front of her property She commented on having the soil in Marion County for raising horses which is something that should be considered Tony Beresford NW 90th Avenue commented on the process that seems to go back to 1980 when there was talk of building a road not necessarily a toll road between Tampa and Jacksonville which is the directive that was given to the consultants He opined that the Governor needs to step in and stop this connector Linda Pizzonia West Highway 326 advised that the Coastal Connector greatly affects their business farm and way of life She opined that the connector will ruin Marion County Louise Coates NW 90th Avenue presented 2 Google Earth Maps noting she spent some time on the Internet looking west of Marion County by Highway 19 where she found a possible route She stated it shows the possibility of another route that will not impact a lot of people and the horse farms In response to Chairman Bryant Ms Coates stated the maps were sent to FDOT and the BCC David MacKay Esquire SW College Road advised that he is representing Charlotte Weber owner of Live Oak Plantation noted that he submitted a letter earlier this week to Ms Bolan and Mr Cooke and copied the Board which pointed out the significant adverse impact of the proposed corridors specifically Alternatives C2 and D1 to the farm The 2 corridors will bisect the farm from one end to the other Additional support statistics as to the large economic impact that particular farm has in Marion County were also provided however it is only 1 farm in the agricultural industry of the county Where the routes come together on Highway 27 from there north basically splits CR 225 and CR 225-A which is a strategic part of the equine industry in Marion County The Coastal Connector will have a huge impact with respect to agricultural enterprise no matter where someone is located in Marion County Agricultural operations are not as easily relocated as some may think He advised that he looked over the 1-75 Relief Task Force Summary Report which concluded with this study started Mr MacKay expressed concern that Marion County is not mentioned anywhere in the report He opined that it behooves the county to appoint a point person in the system to be on top of this going forward Matt Varney NW 90th Avenue Ocala Horse Properties advised that he has 2 questions for the Board to ask FDOT and 1 complaint Have the members of FDOT in attendance been to Ocala before today If so have they had the chance to drive these proposed routes and what did they think He noted he keeps hearing this is very early in the study and these are just lines on a map however the reality is that these lines have put into question any perspective sale within one-half mile of these routes He noted many people in the attendance today have either bought or sold farms from him or his company and asked the Board to put themselves in the eyes of a future buyer right now Would any Commissioner buy in the wake of these routes with what is known at this time Mr Varney stated the study should be stopped Karin Lunau NW 100th Street and NW 35th Lane Road was not present when called up to speak Chairman Bryant read her comments on the sign-up card into the record Northern segment options both would bring more traffic to the most congested segment of 1-75 301 and 441 cannot accommodate more traffic I suggest a third northsouth corridor from Tampa to Highway 10 (EastWest)
Book X Page 1039
May 18 2018
Tom Grabe advised that he owns 3 properties in northwest Marion County NW 80th Avenue (business address) NW 78th Court (residence) and NW 42nd Street (70 acre) that he recently purchased for his future home but maybe not now He addressed earlier comments by Ms Bolan in regard to planning for the future and questioned what residents are supposed to do while FDOT is planning for the future Mr Grabe stated he has plans for a home a barn and farm that is now on hold He advised that he has stopped his architect since he cannot plan for the future now and they are telling him that he may have an answer in 27 years Mr Grabe noted that Ms Bolan stated the PDampE for the initial part of this took 4 years but he noticed this has taken 2 years He inquired as to how he will sell his property now that one of the routes traverses his entire piece of property and the other 2 properties fall within one-quarter mile of the line on NW 90th Mr Grabe commented on refining the routes since they are not set in stone and questioned how they will refine routes they do not have He questioned whether Marion County wants to be a destination or a pit stop between Tampa and Jacksonville Chairman Bryant advised that public comment is now closed
There was a recess at 401 pm The meeting resumed at 405 pm with all members present except Commissioner Zalak
BOARD DISCUSSION Chairman Bryant stated FDOT will now address questions posed noting Commissioners may also have a few more questions She noted that Ms Hunt asked why the choke point of Highway 27 and NW 90th Avenue were chosen Commissioner Zalak returned at 406 pm Mr Schnell stated the area of Highway 27 was initially chosen because of the traffic both existing and future He noted this is very preliminary and can be moved in another direction Chairman Bryant inquired if someone gave them direction to use Highway 27 or if it was based solely on traffic Mr Schnell advised that it was solely based on traffic Chairman Bryant referred to an article in the Ocala Star Banner newspaper dated October 14 2017 that stated input was received from local representatives and inquired as to who those representatives were Ms Bolan stated they met with some of the staff from Marion and Citrus counties as well as the cities of Crystal River Dunnellon and Inverness She clarified that they also received input from the public at their meetings Chairman Bryant noted Ms Hunt also questioned whether any routes were chosen to support any economic development projects occurring in Marion County at this time Ms Bolan stated they are not aware of doing that however they do look at the land use and maybe knowing some developments are coming which are considerations but there is not one in particular as they have no special interest in this noting it is a transportation project to try and plan for the future infrastructure needed in the area Chairman Bryant noted one other question was whether FDOT knows what the reasons were for being told to stay away from SR 200 and Highway 41 Mr Schnell stated if he recalls correctly he believes SR 200 was because of some environmental features along that area approaching the Withlacoochee River and concern with Highway 41 going through the City of Dunnellon Commissioner Zalak expressed his appreciation for FDOT for taking the time to be here today and advised that his request is to stop the routes as it really puts a choke hold on the equine industry at this point He understands that FDOT will always be studying
Page 1040 Book X
May 18 2018
routes The county is always trying to figure out how to move people around in the most efficient and effective manner which is what FDOT is trying to do Commissioner Zalak spoke to the uniqueness of Marion County and the equine industry and expressed his hopes that FDOT will take that into consideration He stated if the route has to go through Marion County he would like to sit down and find the best route for the county that does not impact the horse farms Commissioner Zalak stated there may be some existing corridors with better options and requested that these options be taken off the table Mr Cooke stated they would love to work with staff and the commission to perhaps come up with another corridor that is different than what is seen today Commissioner Moore commented on growing up in Crystal River and encouraged FDOT to look at Highway 19 He noted Levy and Alachua counties have said no and it is not right that Marion County should have a problem because those 2 counties said no The most logical route was what they had in the 1980 where the route ran up into Levy County and either at Trenton or Lebanon Station it cut over Commissioner Moore recommended FDOT revisit some of the logical routes rather than going through the heart of horse country He noted another route takes you over to the east and runs up through publicly owned lands however there are some environmental considerations Commissioner Gold advised that he pulled the maps for Highway 19 and asked if FDOT has looked at that route Ms Bolan stated Highway 19 is a longer route and is a little counterintuitive if you are trying to go from Tampa to Jacksonville She advised that the Hurricane Evacuation Committee with the Legislature had asked to look at noting there was going to be a study looking straight up Highway 19 or north up to 1-10 but that was recently vetoed so that study stopped FDOT can take these things into consideration Commissioner Gold urged FDOT to look at Highway 19 noting there is a slight shift to the west but it is not as significant as he originally thought Mr Cooke opined that is possible and noted it was something that had also been mentioned in a lot of comments Commissioner Stone expressed her appreciation to FDOTs flexibility and conversation she had with Mr Cooke prior to this workshop which gave her some ease knowing that they are here to listen and believes they are hearing the comments loud and clear She inquired as to how they refine what you do not have since these are non-committed lines drawn on the maps Mr Cooke commented on adjusting the corridors maybe east or west of where they are today in the general area of where they are He noted that a lot of speakers today are certainly not in favor of that at all but that was the refinement looking at an existing corridor and perhaps shifting it 500 feet 1000 feet or one-quarter mile one way or the other Mr Cooke advised that they hear what is being said they are listening and will look at alternatives He stated they will work with staff to hopefully come up with a solution that is workable for everyone Henry Pinzon Turnpike Environmental Management Engineer stated what is seen here is very important and expressed his appreciation for input from the Board and public today He stated he hears the concern with the corridors today and advised that they are going back to the drawing table to come with new ideas The plan is to meet with county staff as well as city staff to come up with a better solution Commissioner Stone stated the input from staff will come from the BCC She advised that her direction to staff is that these routes cannot be considered at all period The 500 foot and 300 foot variances will not work for this refinement means she wants them totally erased
Book X Page 1041
May 18 2018
Mr Schell advised that they are in agreement with that noting it is not just refinement it is elimination and looking at something else altogether Commissioner Stone stated elimination is a great way to reference the corridors Commissioner Zalak stated from a toll perspective he can see monetarily why a route to JacksonvilleTampa may be important from a logistical standpoint and other travelers going updown northsouth 1-75 1-95 as well as other corridors northsouth of Highway 19 He stated FDOT must have some perspective on the money to fund a toll route from Tampa to Jacksonville He inquired about a toll route that is a 3 rd corridor that runs northsouth and questioned if that has been evaluated by the Toll Commission Mr Pinzon stated they need to evaluate routes that have a good potential to be economically feasible If you look at a 100 mile route going to the north with no real road crossings it is going to be very difficult to make that road financially feasible Commissioner Moore addressed earlier comment about monorail and whether a monorail system has been considered Ms Bolan advised that as part of the 1-75 Relief Task Force there was some recommendations to look at rail studies There is currently an ongoing study that FDOT out of Tallahassee has been performing looking at some of the existing rail corridors and rail options however rail is not part of the turnpike portion of FDOT She stated they cannot speak specifically for that but there is an ongoing study and they can get the BCC in touch with those folks working on that study Commissioner Moore commented on airport hubs and questioned why something like this would not go over toward Williston where there is a regional airport and away from other areas Ms Bolan stated a lot of it is based on future traffic projections General discussion ensued
CLOSING COMMENTS Chairman Bryant thanked FDOT once again for coming here today and listening to concerns from Marion County It is very evident that residents are concerned about what is happening in their community especially the northwest and western part of the county The countys agricultural community encompasses a lot of different things as was heard today and encompasses farming the thoroughbred industry not just northwest Marion County but the entire county The routes proposed go through northwest and west Marion County both of which are represented by herself and Commissioner Stone Chairman Bryant opined that the Board is asking for elimination of all proposed routes She advised that the county has started to craft a Resolution noting copies have been provided to fellow commissioners The Resolution will likely be presented at the next BCC meeting (June 5 2018) as action cannot be taken at a workshop however general consensus can be given Chairman Bryant asked that a copy of the proposed Resolution be forwarded to FDOT so they can see what is in it which talks a lot about the impact that Coastal Connector would bring to Marion County specifically to citizens talked about today Chairman Bryant asked that FDOT take that into consideration and that they quickly come out publicly and let it be known that you are no longer considering the routes as proposed As heard today these proposed routes do affect peoples lives and plans as well as real estate sales because if you know something like this is planned in your backyard you have to disclose that information to a prospective buyer which is a valid point This also makes a difference as far as people investing more into the community Chairman Bryant spoke to fellow commissioners about the Resolution that was handed out to each of them and asked that they look it over She stated if a commissioner would
Page 1042 Book X
May 18 2018
like to have anything added before the next meeting on June 5 2018 to contact the County Attorney and asked if there are any questions or suggestions at this time Chairman Bryant advised that if she has Board consensus the Resolution will be on the next BCC Agenda It was the general consensus of the Board to agree to placing the Resolution on the June 5 2018 BCC Agenda Commissioner Stone advised that she has already provided input to Mr Minter Chairman Bryant asked that FDOT go back to what the 1-75 Relief Task Force was talking about noting there was a route in the recommendation that made a lot of sense and did not impact folks like it does Marion County now Chairman Bryant reiterated her thanks to FDOT for coming out today and listening noting the Boards job is not always easy and today FDOTs job is not easy She voiced her hope that those in the audience will thank FDOT for coming and participating today Commissioner Gold advised that the Resolution includes a request to the Governor Commissioner Stone thanked FDOT for its flexibility and hearing the county She stated she looks forward to FDOTs formal elimination of these routes
It was noted for the record that the Deputy Clerk received a 4 page brochure regarding the Coastal Connector from County Engineer Tracy Straub OCE a 3 page document from Calvin amp Lynda Miller a large map from John Rudinanyn and a 15 page document from Judy Greenberg
There being no further business to come before the Board the meeting thereupon adjourned at 426 pm
athy B nt Chairman
Attest
David R Ellsp mann Clerk
Book X Page 1043
May 18 2018
THIS PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK
Page 1044 Book X
May 18 2018
Tom Grabe advised that he owns 3 properties in northwest Marion County NW 80th Avenue (business address) NW 78th Court (residence) and NW 42nd Street (70 acre) that he recently purchased for his future home but maybe not now He addressed earlier comments by Ms Bolan in regard to planning for the future and questioned what residents are supposed to do while FDOT is planning for the future Mr Grabe stated he has plans for a home a barn and farm that is now on hold He advised that he has stopped his architect since he cannot plan for the future now and they are telling him that he may have an answer in 27 years Mr Grabe noted that Ms Bolan stated the PDampE for the initial part of this took 4 years but he noticed this has taken 2 years He inquired as to how he will sell his property now that one of the routes traverses his entire piece of property and the other 2 properties fall within one-quarter mile of the line on NW 90th Mr Grabe commented on refining the routes since they are not set in stone and questioned how they will refine routes they do not have He questioned whether Marion County wants to be a destination or a pit stop between Tampa and Jacksonville Chairman Bryant advised that public comment is now closed
There was a recess at 401 pm The meeting resumed at 405 pm with all members present except Commissioner Zalak
BOARD DISCUSSION Chairman Bryant stated FDOT will now address questions posed noting Commissioners may also have a few more questions She noted that Ms Hunt asked why the choke point of Highway 27 and NW 90th Avenue were chosen Commissioner Zalak returned at 406 pm Mr Schnell stated the area of Highway 27 was initially chosen because of the traffic both existing and future He noted this is very preliminary and can be moved in another direction Chairman Bryant inquired if someone gave them direction to use Highway 27 or if it was based solely on traffic Mr Schnell advised that it was solely based on traffic Chairman Bryant referred to an article in the Ocala Star Banner newspaper dated October 14 2017 that stated input was received from local representatives and inquired as to who those representatives were Ms Bolan stated they met with some of the staff from Marion and Citrus counties as well as the cities of Crystal River Dunnellon and Inverness She clarified that they also received input from the public at their meetings Chairman Bryant noted Ms Hunt also questioned whether any routes were chosen to support any economic development projects occurring in Marion County at this time Ms Bolan stated they are not aware of doing that however they do look at the land use and maybe knowing some developments are coming which are considerations but there is not one in particular as they have no special interest in this noting it is a transportation project to try and plan for the future infrastructure needed in the area Chairman Bryant noted one other question was whether FDOT knows what the reasons were for being told to stay away from SR 200 and Highway 41 Mr Schnell stated if he recalls correctly he believes SR 200 was because of some environmental features along that area approaching the Withlacoochee River and concern with Highway 41 going through the City of Dunnellon Commissioner Zalak expressed his appreciation for FDOT for taking the time to be here today and advised that his request is to stop the routes as it really puts a choke hold on the equine industry at this point He understands that FDOT will always be studying
Page 1040 Book X
May 18 2018
routes The county is always trying to figure out how to move people around in the most efficient and effective manner which is what FDOT is trying to do Commissioner Zalak spoke to the uniqueness of Marion County and the equine industry and expressed his hopes that FDOT will take that into consideration He stated if the route has to go through Marion County he would like to sit down and find the best route for the county that does not impact the horse farms Commissioner Zalak stated there may be some existing corridors with better options and requested that these options be taken off the table Mr Cooke stated they would love to work with staff and the commission to perhaps come up with another corridor that is different than what is seen today Commissioner Moore commented on growing up in Crystal River and encouraged FDOT to look at Highway 19 He noted Levy and Alachua counties have said no and it is not right that Marion County should have a problem because those 2 counties said no The most logical route was what they had in the 1980 where the route ran up into Levy County and either at Trenton or Lebanon Station it cut over Commissioner Moore recommended FDOT revisit some of the logical routes rather than going through the heart of horse country He noted another route takes you over to the east and runs up through publicly owned lands however there are some environmental considerations Commissioner Gold advised that he pulled the maps for Highway 19 and asked if FDOT has looked at that route Ms Bolan stated Highway 19 is a longer route and is a little counterintuitive if you are trying to go from Tampa to Jacksonville She advised that the Hurricane Evacuation Committee with the Legislature had asked to look at noting there was going to be a study looking straight up Highway 19 or north up to 1-10 but that was recently vetoed so that study stopped FDOT can take these things into consideration Commissioner Gold urged FDOT to look at Highway 19 noting there is a slight shift to the west but it is not as significant as he originally thought Mr Cooke opined that is possible and noted it was something that had also been mentioned in a lot of comments Commissioner Stone expressed her appreciation to FDOTs flexibility and conversation she had with Mr Cooke prior to this workshop which gave her some ease knowing that they are here to listen and believes they are hearing the comments loud and clear She inquired as to how they refine what you do not have since these are non-committed lines drawn on the maps Mr Cooke commented on adjusting the corridors maybe east or west of where they are today in the general area of where they are He noted that a lot of speakers today are certainly not in favor of that at all but that was the refinement looking at an existing corridor and perhaps shifting it 500 feet 1000 feet or one-quarter mile one way or the other Mr Cooke advised that they hear what is being said they are listening and will look at alternatives He stated they will work with staff to hopefully come up with a solution that is workable for everyone Henry Pinzon Turnpike Environmental Management Engineer stated what is seen here is very important and expressed his appreciation for input from the Board and public today He stated he hears the concern with the corridors today and advised that they are going back to the drawing table to come with new ideas The plan is to meet with county staff as well as city staff to come up with a better solution Commissioner Stone stated the input from staff will come from the BCC She advised that her direction to staff is that these routes cannot be considered at all period The 500 foot and 300 foot variances will not work for this refinement means she wants them totally erased
Book X Page 1041
May 18 2018
Mr Schell advised that they are in agreement with that noting it is not just refinement it is elimination and looking at something else altogether Commissioner Stone stated elimination is a great way to reference the corridors Commissioner Zalak stated from a toll perspective he can see monetarily why a route to JacksonvilleTampa may be important from a logistical standpoint and other travelers going updown northsouth 1-75 1-95 as well as other corridors northsouth of Highway 19 He stated FDOT must have some perspective on the money to fund a toll route from Tampa to Jacksonville He inquired about a toll route that is a 3 rd corridor that runs northsouth and questioned if that has been evaluated by the Toll Commission Mr Pinzon stated they need to evaluate routes that have a good potential to be economically feasible If you look at a 100 mile route going to the north with no real road crossings it is going to be very difficult to make that road financially feasible Commissioner Moore addressed earlier comment about monorail and whether a monorail system has been considered Ms Bolan advised that as part of the 1-75 Relief Task Force there was some recommendations to look at rail studies There is currently an ongoing study that FDOT out of Tallahassee has been performing looking at some of the existing rail corridors and rail options however rail is not part of the turnpike portion of FDOT She stated they cannot speak specifically for that but there is an ongoing study and they can get the BCC in touch with those folks working on that study Commissioner Moore commented on airport hubs and questioned why something like this would not go over toward Williston where there is a regional airport and away from other areas Ms Bolan stated a lot of it is based on future traffic projections General discussion ensued
CLOSING COMMENTS Chairman Bryant thanked FDOT once again for coming here today and listening to concerns from Marion County It is very evident that residents are concerned about what is happening in their community especially the northwest and western part of the county The countys agricultural community encompasses a lot of different things as was heard today and encompasses farming the thoroughbred industry not just northwest Marion County but the entire county The routes proposed go through northwest and west Marion County both of which are represented by herself and Commissioner Stone Chairman Bryant opined that the Board is asking for elimination of all proposed routes She advised that the county has started to craft a Resolution noting copies have been provided to fellow commissioners The Resolution will likely be presented at the next BCC meeting (June 5 2018) as action cannot be taken at a workshop however general consensus can be given Chairman Bryant asked that a copy of the proposed Resolution be forwarded to FDOT so they can see what is in it which talks a lot about the impact that Coastal Connector would bring to Marion County specifically to citizens talked about today Chairman Bryant asked that FDOT take that into consideration and that they quickly come out publicly and let it be known that you are no longer considering the routes as proposed As heard today these proposed routes do affect peoples lives and plans as well as real estate sales because if you know something like this is planned in your backyard you have to disclose that information to a prospective buyer which is a valid point This also makes a difference as far as people investing more into the community Chairman Bryant spoke to fellow commissioners about the Resolution that was handed out to each of them and asked that they look it over She stated if a commissioner would
Page 1042 Book X
May 18 2018
like to have anything added before the next meeting on June 5 2018 to contact the County Attorney and asked if there are any questions or suggestions at this time Chairman Bryant advised that if she has Board consensus the Resolution will be on the next BCC Agenda It was the general consensus of the Board to agree to placing the Resolution on the June 5 2018 BCC Agenda Commissioner Stone advised that she has already provided input to Mr Minter Chairman Bryant asked that FDOT go back to what the 1-75 Relief Task Force was talking about noting there was a route in the recommendation that made a lot of sense and did not impact folks like it does Marion County now Chairman Bryant reiterated her thanks to FDOT for coming out today and listening noting the Boards job is not always easy and today FDOTs job is not easy She voiced her hope that those in the audience will thank FDOT for coming and participating today Commissioner Gold advised that the Resolution includes a request to the Governor Commissioner Stone thanked FDOT for its flexibility and hearing the county She stated she looks forward to FDOTs formal elimination of these routes
It was noted for the record that the Deputy Clerk received a 4 page brochure regarding the Coastal Connector from County Engineer Tracy Straub OCE a 3 page document from Calvin amp Lynda Miller a large map from John Rudinanyn and a 15 page document from Judy Greenberg
There being no further business to come before the Board the meeting thereupon adjourned at 426 pm
athy B nt Chairman
Attest
David R Ellsp mann Clerk
Book X Page 1043
May 18 2018
THIS PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK
Page 1044 Book X
May 18 2018
routes The county is always trying to figure out how to move people around in the most efficient and effective manner which is what FDOT is trying to do Commissioner Zalak spoke to the uniqueness of Marion County and the equine industry and expressed his hopes that FDOT will take that into consideration He stated if the route has to go through Marion County he would like to sit down and find the best route for the county that does not impact the horse farms Commissioner Zalak stated there may be some existing corridors with better options and requested that these options be taken off the table Mr Cooke stated they would love to work with staff and the commission to perhaps come up with another corridor that is different than what is seen today Commissioner Moore commented on growing up in Crystal River and encouraged FDOT to look at Highway 19 He noted Levy and Alachua counties have said no and it is not right that Marion County should have a problem because those 2 counties said no The most logical route was what they had in the 1980 where the route ran up into Levy County and either at Trenton or Lebanon Station it cut over Commissioner Moore recommended FDOT revisit some of the logical routes rather than going through the heart of horse country He noted another route takes you over to the east and runs up through publicly owned lands however there are some environmental considerations Commissioner Gold advised that he pulled the maps for Highway 19 and asked if FDOT has looked at that route Ms Bolan stated Highway 19 is a longer route and is a little counterintuitive if you are trying to go from Tampa to Jacksonville She advised that the Hurricane Evacuation Committee with the Legislature had asked to look at noting there was going to be a study looking straight up Highway 19 or north up to 1-10 but that was recently vetoed so that study stopped FDOT can take these things into consideration Commissioner Gold urged FDOT to look at Highway 19 noting there is a slight shift to the west but it is not as significant as he originally thought Mr Cooke opined that is possible and noted it was something that had also been mentioned in a lot of comments Commissioner Stone expressed her appreciation to FDOTs flexibility and conversation she had with Mr Cooke prior to this workshop which gave her some ease knowing that they are here to listen and believes they are hearing the comments loud and clear She inquired as to how they refine what you do not have since these are non-committed lines drawn on the maps Mr Cooke commented on adjusting the corridors maybe east or west of where they are today in the general area of where they are He noted that a lot of speakers today are certainly not in favor of that at all but that was the refinement looking at an existing corridor and perhaps shifting it 500 feet 1000 feet or one-quarter mile one way or the other Mr Cooke advised that they hear what is being said they are listening and will look at alternatives He stated they will work with staff to hopefully come up with a solution that is workable for everyone Henry Pinzon Turnpike Environmental Management Engineer stated what is seen here is very important and expressed his appreciation for input from the Board and public today He stated he hears the concern with the corridors today and advised that they are going back to the drawing table to come with new ideas The plan is to meet with county staff as well as city staff to come up with a better solution Commissioner Stone stated the input from staff will come from the BCC She advised that her direction to staff is that these routes cannot be considered at all period The 500 foot and 300 foot variances will not work for this refinement means she wants them totally erased
Book X Page 1041
May 18 2018
Mr Schell advised that they are in agreement with that noting it is not just refinement it is elimination and looking at something else altogether Commissioner Stone stated elimination is a great way to reference the corridors Commissioner Zalak stated from a toll perspective he can see monetarily why a route to JacksonvilleTampa may be important from a logistical standpoint and other travelers going updown northsouth 1-75 1-95 as well as other corridors northsouth of Highway 19 He stated FDOT must have some perspective on the money to fund a toll route from Tampa to Jacksonville He inquired about a toll route that is a 3 rd corridor that runs northsouth and questioned if that has been evaluated by the Toll Commission Mr Pinzon stated they need to evaluate routes that have a good potential to be economically feasible If you look at a 100 mile route going to the north with no real road crossings it is going to be very difficult to make that road financially feasible Commissioner Moore addressed earlier comment about monorail and whether a monorail system has been considered Ms Bolan advised that as part of the 1-75 Relief Task Force there was some recommendations to look at rail studies There is currently an ongoing study that FDOT out of Tallahassee has been performing looking at some of the existing rail corridors and rail options however rail is not part of the turnpike portion of FDOT She stated they cannot speak specifically for that but there is an ongoing study and they can get the BCC in touch with those folks working on that study Commissioner Moore commented on airport hubs and questioned why something like this would not go over toward Williston where there is a regional airport and away from other areas Ms Bolan stated a lot of it is based on future traffic projections General discussion ensued
CLOSING COMMENTS Chairman Bryant thanked FDOT once again for coming here today and listening to concerns from Marion County It is very evident that residents are concerned about what is happening in their community especially the northwest and western part of the county The countys agricultural community encompasses a lot of different things as was heard today and encompasses farming the thoroughbred industry not just northwest Marion County but the entire county The routes proposed go through northwest and west Marion County both of which are represented by herself and Commissioner Stone Chairman Bryant opined that the Board is asking for elimination of all proposed routes She advised that the county has started to craft a Resolution noting copies have been provided to fellow commissioners The Resolution will likely be presented at the next BCC meeting (June 5 2018) as action cannot be taken at a workshop however general consensus can be given Chairman Bryant asked that a copy of the proposed Resolution be forwarded to FDOT so they can see what is in it which talks a lot about the impact that Coastal Connector would bring to Marion County specifically to citizens talked about today Chairman Bryant asked that FDOT take that into consideration and that they quickly come out publicly and let it be known that you are no longer considering the routes as proposed As heard today these proposed routes do affect peoples lives and plans as well as real estate sales because if you know something like this is planned in your backyard you have to disclose that information to a prospective buyer which is a valid point This also makes a difference as far as people investing more into the community Chairman Bryant spoke to fellow commissioners about the Resolution that was handed out to each of them and asked that they look it over She stated if a commissioner would
Page 1042 Book X
May 18 2018
like to have anything added before the next meeting on June 5 2018 to contact the County Attorney and asked if there are any questions or suggestions at this time Chairman Bryant advised that if she has Board consensus the Resolution will be on the next BCC Agenda It was the general consensus of the Board to agree to placing the Resolution on the June 5 2018 BCC Agenda Commissioner Stone advised that she has already provided input to Mr Minter Chairman Bryant asked that FDOT go back to what the 1-75 Relief Task Force was talking about noting there was a route in the recommendation that made a lot of sense and did not impact folks like it does Marion County now Chairman Bryant reiterated her thanks to FDOT for coming out today and listening noting the Boards job is not always easy and today FDOTs job is not easy She voiced her hope that those in the audience will thank FDOT for coming and participating today Commissioner Gold advised that the Resolution includes a request to the Governor Commissioner Stone thanked FDOT for its flexibility and hearing the county She stated she looks forward to FDOTs formal elimination of these routes
It was noted for the record that the Deputy Clerk received a 4 page brochure regarding the Coastal Connector from County Engineer Tracy Straub OCE a 3 page document from Calvin amp Lynda Miller a large map from John Rudinanyn and a 15 page document from Judy Greenberg
There being no further business to come before the Board the meeting thereupon adjourned at 426 pm
athy B nt Chairman
Attest
David R Ellsp mann Clerk
Book X Page 1043
May 18 2018
THIS PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK
Page 1044 Book X
May 18 2018
Mr Schell advised that they are in agreement with that noting it is not just refinement it is elimination and looking at something else altogether Commissioner Stone stated elimination is a great way to reference the corridors Commissioner Zalak stated from a toll perspective he can see monetarily why a route to JacksonvilleTampa may be important from a logistical standpoint and other travelers going updown northsouth 1-75 1-95 as well as other corridors northsouth of Highway 19 He stated FDOT must have some perspective on the money to fund a toll route from Tampa to Jacksonville He inquired about a toll route that is a 3 rd corridor that runs northsouth and questioned if that has been evaluated by the Toll Commission Mr Pinzon stated they need to evaluate routes that have a good potential to be economically feasible If you look at a 100 mile route going to the north with no real road crossings it is going to be very difficult to make that road financially feasible Commissioner Moore addressed earlier comment about monorail and whether a monorail system has been considered Ms Bolan advised that as part of the 1-75 Relief Task Force there was some recommendations to look at rail studies There is currently an ongoing study that FDOT out of Tallahassee has been performing looking at some of the existing rail corridors and rail options however rail is not part of the turnpike portion of FDOT She stated they cannot speak specifically for that but there is an ongoing study and they can get the BCC in touch with those folks working on that study Commissioner Moore commented on airport hubs and questioned why something like this would not go over toward Williston where there is a regional airport and away from other areas Ms Bolan stated a lot of it is based on future traffic projections General discussion ensued
CLOSING COMMENTS Chairman Bryant thanked FDOT once again for coming here today and listening to concerns from Marion County It is very evident that residents are concerned about what is happening in their community especially the northwest and western part of the county The countys agricultural community encompasses a lot of different things as was heard today and encompasses farming the thoroughbred industry not just northwest Marion County but the entire county The routes proposed go through northwest and west Marion County both of which are represented by herself and Commissioner Stone Chairman Bryant opined that the Board is asking for elimination of all proposed routes She advised that the county has started to craft a Resolution noting copies have been provided to fellow commissioners The Resolution will likely be presented at the next BCC meeting (June 5 2018) as action cannot be taken at a workshop however general consensus can be given Chairman Bryant asked that a copy of the proposed Resolution be forwarded to FDOT so they can see what is in it which talks a lot about the impact that Coastal Connector would bring to Marion County specifically to citizens talked about today Chairman Bryant asked that FDOT take that into consideration and that they quickly come out publicly and let it be known that you are no longer considering the routes as proposed As heard today these proposed routes do affect peoples lives and plans as well as real estate sales because if you know something like this is planned in your backyard you have to disclose that information to a prospective buyer which is a valid point This also makes a difference as far as people investing more into the community Chairman Bryant spoke to fellow commissioners about the Resolution that was handed out to each of them and asked that they look it over She stated if a commissioner would
Page 1042 Book X
May 18 2018
like to have anything added before the next meeting on June 5 2018 to contact the County Attorney and asked if there are any questions or suggestions at this time Chairman Bryant advised that if she has Board consensus the Resolution will be on the next BCC Agenda It was the general consensus of the Board to agree to placing the Resolution on the June 5 2018 BCC Agenda Commissioner Stone advised that she has already provided input to Mr Minter Chairman Bryant asked that FDOT go back to what the 1-75 Relief Task Force was talking about noting there was a route in the recommendation that made a lot of sense and did not impact folks like it does Marion County now Chairman Bryant reiterated her thanks to FDOT for coming out today and listening noting the Boards job is not always easy and today FDOTs job is not easy She voiced her hope that those in the audience will thank FDOT for coming and participating today Commissioner Gold advised that the Resolution includes a request to the Governor Commissioner Stone thanked FDOT for its flexibility and hearing the county She stated she looks forward to FDOTs formal elimination of these routes
It was noted for the record that the Deputy Clerk received a 4 page brochure regarding the Coastal Connector from County Engineer Tracy Straub OCE a 3 page document from Calvin amp Lynda Miller a large map from John Rudinanyn and a 15 page document from Judy Greenberg
There being no further business to come before the Board the meeting thereupon adjourned at 426 pm
athy B nt Chairman
Attest
David R Ellsp mann Clerk
Book X Page 1043
May 18 2018
THIS PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK
Page 1044 Book X
May 18 2018
like to have anything added before the next meeting on June 5 2018 to contact the County Attorney and asked if there are any questions or suggestions at this time Chairman Bryant advised that if she has Board consensus the Resolution will be on the next BCC Agenda It was the general consensus of the Board to agree to placing the Resolution on the June 5 2018 BCC Agenda Commissioner Stone advised that she has already provided input to Mr Minter Chairman Bryant asked that FDOT go back to what the 1-75 Relief Task Force was talking about noting there was a route in the recommendation that made a lot of sense and did not impact folks like it does Marion County now Chairman Bryant reiterated her thanks to FDOT for coming out today and listening noting the Boards job is not always easy and today FDOTs job is not easy She voiced her hope that those in the audience will thank FDOT for coming and participating today Commissioner Gold advised that the Resolution includes a request to the Governor Commissioner Stone thanked FDOT for its flexibility and hearing the county She stated she looks forward to FDOTs formal elimination of these routes
It was noted for the record that the Deputy Clerk received a 4 page brochure regarding the Coastal Connector from County Engineer Tracy Straub OCE a 3 page document from Calvin amp Lynda Miller a large map from John Rudinanyn and a 15 page document from Judy Greenberg
There being no further business to come before the Board the meeting thereupon adjourned at 426 pm
athy B nt Chairman
Attest
David R Ellsp mann Clerk
Book X Page 1043
May 18 2018
THIS PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK
Page 1044 Book X
May 18 2018
THIS PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK
Page 1044 Book X